Numbers of mast cells in the axillary lymph nodes of breast cancer patients

Abstract

This retrospective study of surgical specimens from 43 consecutive patients treated by modified radical mastectomy for carcinoma of the breast shows that those patients surviving for at least 60 mo. after operation have a significantly greater number of mast cells in their axillary lymph nodes than the nonsurvivors (P < .0001). When expressed as cells/mm2 the survivors are associated with nodal concentrations greater than 11 mast cells/mm2 while the nonsurvivors have fewer than 11 mast cells/mm2. The number of nodal mast cells may be readily quantitated host response of prognostic value in carcinoma of the breast.