Occult axillary lymph node metastases from breast cancers with intramammary lymphatic tumor emboli.

Serial sections were performed on the axillary lymph nodes from 28 women with mammary carcinoma and intramammary lymphatic tumor emboli. Occult metastases were demonstrated in nine women (32%), all less than 2 mm in diameter. During the 10 years of follow-up, no difference in recurrences was found between this group (33%) and those without occult metastases (37%). Serial sectioning of lymph nodes in this group of patients does not appear to be helpful in prognosis.