Breast Cancer in Elderly Women: Role of Tumor Characteristics in Predicting Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis

Background: The number of elderly women with breast cancer is increasing and becoming a major health concern. Worldwide. Nearly a third of breast cancer cases occurs in eldery women. Differences in the pathologic features of breast tumors in aging women have been described. Axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer patients. Some studies reported that tumor characteristics were related to an increased axillary lymph node metastasis. The aim of this study was to identify tumor characteristics associated with axillary lymph node metastasis.