Magnetic Marker Localization for Occult Breast Cancer and Target Axillary Dissection in Node-positive Breast Cancer Post-neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer is expanding in the recent decade. Patients with good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy could benefit from de-escalation of breast and axilla operation. However, breast tumor and involved axillary lymph node should be marked before the commencement of chemotherapy. This could facilitate subsequent operative planning and intraoperative assessment of disease response. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of magnetic marker localization for non-palpable breast cancer and targeted axillary dissection in patients with node-positive breast cancer following neoadjuvant therapy
• All patients with cT1-3N1 invasive ductal carcinoma planned for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or target therapy
• mentally competent to give informed consent
• Agreed to proceed with curative operation after chemotherapy and tentatively keen for breast conservative surgery and targeted axillary dissection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• Radiologically 1-3 ipsilateral axillary lymph node metastases confirmed by cytology or biopsy