nodepositive

Node-positive is a medical term used to describe cancer that has spread to regional lymph nodes near the primary tumor. It is most commonly discussed in breast cancer but applies to many solid tumors where lymphatic spread is a key step in disease progression. A node-positive designation means cancer cells are found in sampled lymph nodes, while node-negative means no cancer cells are detected in the evaluated nodes.

Detection and staging involve surgical and pathological assessment. Sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection is performed during initial surgery, followed by microscopic examination to determine the number of positive nodes and the size of metastatic deposits. Some cancers also use terms like micro-metastasis or macro-metastasis to describe deposit size. The presence of nodal metastasis upstages disease compared with node-negative cases and helps guide treatment decisions.

Clinical implications vary by cancer type but commonly include adjustments to systemic and local therapies. In breast cancer, node-positive status often leads to adjuvant chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, HER2-targeted therapy when appropriate, and radiation to regional nodal basins. The extent and location of nodal involvement, along with tumor biology, influence prognosis and recurrence risk.

Node-positive disease is distinct from distant metastasis. The latter refers to cancer that has spread to distant organs and is typically described as stage IV. While nodal positivity signals more advanced local spread, outcomes depend on multiple factors, including cancer type, number of positive nodes, and overall treatment response.