A Long-Term Study of Radiation Therapy in T1-2 Node-Negative Breast Cancer Patients in Relation to the Number of Axillary Nodes Examined

The poorer prognosis of a lesser number of nodes resected was overcome partly by the use of radiotherapy, raising the possibility of micrometastases in lymph nodes not removed. The optimal number of axillary nodes examined could be 8 nodes with adjuvant radiotherapy and 12 nodes without adjuvant radiotherapy.