Publication:

Correlation of coagulation markers with axillary lymph node metastasis in carcinoma breast

Background Lymph node metastasis has been shown to be the most important prognostic marker for carcinoma breast. Lymph node involvement is not only a prognosis marker, but also an important guiding factor in deciding surgical plan as well as postoperative therapy. The aim of the study was to assess role of coagulation markers (D-dimer and factor VIII) value as predictive markers of lymph node metastasis in breast cancerMethods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgery in with help of Departments of Biochemistry, Pathology and Radiology, KAPV&MGMGH, Trichy. 50 female patients who were diagnosed and treated as carcinoma breast in the department of surgery, MGMGH Trichy. The following variables were studied: 1. Age of patient 2. TNM stage of patients. 3. D-dimer levels 4. Factor VIII levels.

Results There was statistically significant relationship between mean values of D-dimer and factor VIII levels and advancing stage of disease, number of pathological axillary lymph node involved, increase in histological grade of tumor, Lymphovascular invasion.

Conclusions D-dimer and factor VIII may be used as yardstick for systemic adjuvant therapy in patients with node negative, <1 cm carcinoma breast. D-dimer may prove to be a safe, convenient and easily available biomarker which can be combined with conventional sentinel node biopsy in clinically node negative breast cancer to assess metastatic-disease in axilla and reduce false negative results.