Retrospective analysis was conducted of a prospectively collected breast cancer SLNB database. Standard statistical methods were used for data analysis.
Five hundred nine patients underwent a SLNB for breast cancer over a 5 year period. A mean of 2.5 SLNs were removed per patient. All patients with SLN metastasis were identified within the 1st 4 SLNs removed.
The 鈥?0%rule鈥?is best used as a guide at the investigators' institution. Strict adherence to this rule appears to result in the removal of an excessive number of lymph nodes, which may contribute to excessive health care costs and patient morbidity.