BACKGROUND There are few data on the long-term sequelae of axillary dissection among older breast carcinoma patients. We describe the impact of axillary dissection in a cohort of older women. METHODS A longitudinal cohort of 571 patients with Stage 1 and 2 breast carcinoma, 67 years and older, diagnosed between 1995 and 1997 from 29 hospitals in five regions, and followed for 2 years. Data we...

The status of axillary lymph nodes is a key prognostic indicator in patients with breast cancer and helps guide patient management. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is increasingly being used as a less morbid alternative to axillary lymph node dissection. However, when sentinel lymph node biopsy is positive, axillary dissection is typically performed for complete staging and local control. Axillary u...

AIM The present study was conducted to detect the musculature variations during axillary dissection for breast cancer surgery. METHODS The anatomy of axilla regarding muscular variations was studied in 50 patients who had an axillary dissection for the staging and treatment of invasive primary breast cancer over one year. RESULTS In a period of one year, two patients (4%) with axillary arch...

BACKGROUND Sentinel node biopsy predicts accurate pathological nodal staging. The survival of node-negative breast cancer patients should be evaluated between the patients treated with sentinel node biopsy alone and those treated with axillary lymph node dissection. METHODS Ninety-seven patients with negative axillary nodes underwent sentinel node biopsy immediately followed by axillary lymph...

PURPOSE The study was to estimate the likelihood of axillary downstaging and to identify the factors predicting a pathologically node negative status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with or without trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer. METHODS Patients with HER2-positive, stage IIa-IIIc breast cancer were enrolled. Axillary status was evaluated by palpation and fine needle aspirati...

This is an initial report of a new method of axillary dissection via a periareolar incision and an 8 mm incision in the axilla with the da Vinci Surgical System. The 10x magnification and three-dimensional image, together with the versatility and precision of the robotic telemanipulators, has enabled us to perform nerve-sparing axillary dissection in four patients with invasive ductal carcinoma...

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis is the single most important factor in assessing breast cancer prognosis and planning systemic therapy. However, lymph node dissection portends significant morbidity, with little or no therapeutic benefit if the nodes prove to be negative for cancer. METHODS: The authors review indications for avoiding axillary dissection, and they analyze the results from lowe...

background: in an attempt to reduce the risk of developing lymphedema following breast cancer surgery, some researchers suggested that by identifying and preserving the lymphatic plexus which drains ipsilateral arm we can minimize the risk of lymphedema. the procedure is known as axillary reverse mapping (arm). in the current study, we investigated the oncological safety of this technique. meth...

The prime objectives for axillary dissection are staging and treatment to cure. No physical examination, no imaging techniques, and no tumor markers can replace axillary dissection for staging. Further, axillary node status in potentially curable breast carcinomas is still considered the single best predictor of outcome and the primary determinant of the use of systemic therapy. Finally, locore...