Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41166453›Full record

ArticleBJS open2025

Safe and transparent introduction and evaluation of targeted axillary dissection in patients with node-positive breast cancer undergoing primary surgery: international consensus process.

Shelley Potter, Ruth Mullan, Henry Cain, Edward R St John, Peter Barry, Yazan Massanat, James Harvey, Katherine Fairhurst, Adrienne Morgan, Margaret Perkins and 6 more

Abstract readConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Article in BJS open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Shelley PotterBristol Surgical and Perioperative Care Complex Intervention Collaboration, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6977-312X
Ruth MullanPatrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Henry CainThe Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK.
Edward R St JohnPortsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7306-6954
Peter BarryThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Yazan MassanatBroomfield Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, Broomfield, UK.
James HarveyManchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
Katherine FairhurstBristol Surgical and Perioperative Care Complex Intervention Collaboration, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9838-4978
Adrienne MorganIndependent Cancer Patients' Voice, London, UK.
Margaret PerkinsIndependent Cancer Patients' Voice, London, UK.
Gregory Bruce MannDepartment of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Jocelyn LippeyDepartment of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Katherine CowanKatherine Cowan Consulting, Southend on Sea, UK.
Natalie BlencoweCentre for Surgical Research, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6111-2175
Stuart A McIntoshPatrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4123-9611
TADPOLE Trial Management Group and the TADPOLE-TOGETHER Collaborative

Funding

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre CS-2016-16-019NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme NIHR158400
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAxillary node clearance is the current standard of care in patients with node-positive breast cancer undergoing primary surgery, despite a lack of evidence to demonstrate survival benefit and high rates of life-changing morbidity. Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) may be a safe alternative to axillary node clearance, but there is no agreement how primary TAD should be performed. TADPOLE-TOGETHER aimed to use international consensus methods to agree the key components of primary TAD to promote standardized introduction and evaluation of the technique within the TADPOLE trial.

methodsA scoping review and key stakeholder interviews were used to generate a longlist of possible procedure steps for inclusion in the Delphi questionnaire. Two rounds of an international online survey were then used to agree the mandatory, optional, and prohibited steps of TAD, together with any standardization and training required. The final approach to primary TAD was agreed at an online consensus meeting.

resultsThirteen potential steps of a TAD procedure were identified from the literature and expert interviews, together with information regarding standardization and training. Some 244 surgeons with global representation participated in the Round 1 survey, of whom 161 (66.0%) participated in Round 2. Seven mandatory steps of primary TAD, including localization and removal of the involved node, combined with a sentinel node biopsy, were agreed upon and ratified by 42 surgeons from the UK, Europe, and Asia who attended the consensus meeting.

conclusionRobust international consensus methods have been used to agree how primary TAD should be performed, promoting safe and transparent introduction and evaluation of the technique.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsLymph Node ExcisionAxillaDelphi TechniqueFemaleHumansLymphatic MetastasisLymph NodesSentinel Lymph Node BiopsySurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID41166453
PMCPMC12574671

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.