BACKGROUND: The omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in @entity1 with @entity0 with a negative finding on sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has reduced arm morbidity substantially. Early follow-up reports have shown the rate of axillary recurrence to be significantly lower than expected, with a median false-negative rate of 7 per cent for SNB. Long-term follow-up is needed as recurrences may develop late. METHODS: The Swedish Multicentre Cohort Study included 3518 @entity1 with @entity0 and a clinically negative axilla, in whom SNB was planned. ALND was performed only in @entity1 with sentinel node @entity3 . Twenty-six centres contributed to enrolment between September 2000 and January 2004. The primary endpoint was the axillary recurrence rate and the secondary endpoint was @entity0 -specific survival, calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. RESULTS: Some 2216 sentinel node-negative @entity1 with 2237 @entity0 were analysed. The median follow-up time was 126 (range 0-174) months. Isolated axillary recurrence was found in 35 @entity1 (1  6 per cent). High histological grade and @entity5 were risk factors for axillary recurrence, whereas the removal of more than two sentinel nodes decreased the risk. Fourteen (40 per cent) of 35 @entity1 died as a consequence of axillary recurrence. CONCLUSION: The risk of axillary recurrence remains lower than expected after a negative finding on SNB at 10-year follow-up. Axillary recurrences may occur long after primary surgery, and lead to a significant risk of @entity0 .

Ten-year report on axillary recurrence after negative sentinel node biopsy for XXXX from the Swedish Multicentre Cohort Study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['multifocal tumours'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancers', 'breast cancer', 'breast cancer death'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis']
@entity0 :: (MESH:D001943,Disease) :: ['breast cancer']
