Axillary Node Dissection, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy May Pose More Harm Than Good In Patients With Pure DCIS

Medscape (5/3, Ellis; registration required) reported that "two commonly used procedures — axillary node dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy — might pose more harm than good to patients with pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)," according to a study presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons 11th Annual Meeting. One of the study's authors said that "her findings indicate that not only do these procedures and their subsequent findings not affect survival 'in any way,' the procedure itself carries some morbidity — albeit low."