Palpable axillary lymph nodes in cancer of the breast:Structural and biologic considerations

The presence of bilaterally palpable axillary lymph nodes was previously found to be a prognostically favorable clinical sign. This study has sought to determine whether patients having bilaterally palpable lymph nodes are characterized by distinctive features in their homolateral nodes and primary tumors. The authors collected groups of cases according to the presence or absence of metastases to axillary lymph nodes and the palpability of their homolateral and heterolateral nodes. The superior survival of patients with bilaterally palpable lymph nodes was most closely correlated with superior sinus histiocytosis reactivity of the homolateral lymph nodes. The findings are discussed in relation to the concept of tumor-host interactions and the therapeutic implications.