Effectiveness of multiple-level sectioning in detecting axillary nodal micrometastasis in breast cancer: a retrospective study with immunohistochemical analysis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of original multiple-level sectioning in detecting axillary nodal micrometastasis in breast carcinoma.

Design: Retrospective analysis of 707 axillary nodes from 34 consecutive node-negative invasive breast cancers from the years 1989 and 1990. All but 2 cases were originally examined by multiple-level sectioning. The original histologic sections were reviewed. Additional sections were cut for hematoxylin-eosin staining and cytokeratin immunohistochemistry.

Results: A micrometastasis was found in only 1 case (1 node) on the original histologic section, which was 1 of the 2 cases not originally processed by multiple-level sectioning. Additional sections and cytokeratin immunostains were negative on all cases, including the false-negative case identified on original section.

Conclusions: The finding of a micrometastasis in 1 case on the original, but not on any additional recuts or cytokeratin immunostains, indicates that the original multiple-level sectioning was very effective (0% false negatives). Immunohistochemistry provided no additional benefit in detecting micrometastases in cases already examined by multiple-level sectioning. Thorough histologic examination on properly prepared sections is probably the most efficient and cost-effective way to detect the vast majority of axillary nodal micrometastases.