Distinction of isolated tumour cells and micrometastasis in lymph nodes of breast cancer patients according to the new Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) definitions

作者：Cserni Gabor^*; Amendoeira Isabel; Bianchi Simonetta; Chmielik Ewa; DeGaetano James; Faverly Daniel; Figueiredo Paulo; Foschini Maria P; Grabau Dorthe; Jacquemier Jocelyne; Kaya Handan; Kulka Janina; Lacerda Manuela; Liepniece Karele Inta; Martinez Penuela Jose; Quinn Cecily; Regitnig Peter; Reiner Concin Angelika; Sapino Anna; van Diest Paul J; Varga Zsuzsanna; Vezzosi Vania; Wesseling Jelle; Zolota Vasiliki; Zozaya Enrique; Wells Clive A

来源：European Journal of Cancer, 2011, 47(6): 887-894.

DOI：10.1016/j.ejca.2010.11.011

• Breast cancer
• Isolated tumour cells
• Isolated tumour cell cluster
• Micrometastasis
• Sentinel lymph node
• TNM

Isolated tumour cells and micrometastases represent two different staging categories and are often dealt with differently when identified in sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. The reproducibility of these categories was found to be suboptimal in several studies. The new edition of the TNM (Tumour Node Metastasis) is expected to improve the reproducibility of these categories. Fifty cases of possible low-volume nodal involvement were represented by one to four digital images and were analysed by members of the European Working Group for Breast Screening Pathology (EWGBSP). The kappa value for interobserver agreement of the pN (TNM) staging categories and of the isolated tumour cells category were 0.55 and 0.56 reflecting moderate reproducibility, and the kappa of the micrometastatic category (0.62) reflected substantial reproducibility. This is an improvement over the results gained on the basis of the previous edition of the TNM. Maximal adherence to the category definitions supplemented by explanatory texts in the staging manual should result in more homogeneous nodal staging of breast cancer.

• 出版日期2011-4