Plain-English translation of NCT04072653 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Breast Cancer research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
This trial is testing whether advanced imaging scans—particularly a specialized PET scan that looks specifically at lymph nodes—can accurately identify breast cancer patients who don't need surgery to remove lymph nodes under the arm. Right now, many women with early-stage breast cancer have this surgery (called sentinel lymph node biopsy) even when imaging suggests cancer hasn't spread to those nodes. The study wants to prove that if these scans show no cancer, the surgery can safely be skipped.
Current practice removes lymph nodes from many women as a precaution, even though research shows some women with low-risk breast cancer may not need this surgery. This trial exists to see whether newer, more precise imaging can reliably identify exactly which women can safely avoid this surgery, reducing unnecessary procedures and their side effects.
You likely qualify if…
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In the first stage, you would undergo imaging scans (ultrasound, MRI, and a specialized lymph node PET scan) to evaluate your underarm lymph nodes. If these scans show no signs of cancer spread, you would move to the second stage, where you would have breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy as planned, but the lymph node removal surgery would be skipped. You would then be closely followed over time to ensure this approach is safe for you.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 9, 2026 · Not medical advice
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