Analysis of virtual protocols derived from protocol A
| A | VP3 | VP4 | VP5 | VP6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A, protocol A; ITC, isolated tumour cells; VP3–6, virtual protocols examining only every 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th level of the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) from group A, respectively. | |||||
| Number of patients with involved SLNs detected | 74 | 72 | 70 | 70 | 69 |
| Number of ITC undetected | – | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Number of micrometastases undetected | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Number of macrometastases undetected | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Number (%) of patients upstaged | 19 (28) | 17 (25) | 15 (22) | 15 (22) | 14 (21) |