Axillary Lymph Node Mapping In Breast Cancer

Abstract

The status of the axilla in patients with breast cancer and its impact on management remains the subject of intense debate. The histological examination of axi11ary lymph nodes remain the most reliable technique to determine the nodal status in breast cancer, but the need for extent of axiltary lymph node dissection is still controversial. Evidence of cancer spread to the axilla is still considered the single most important prognostic indicator in breast cancer patients. The most common complications of traditional operations are post operative pain, seroma, limitation of shoulder movement, parathesia winging of scapula, damage to neurovascular structure lymphoedema, prolonged stay in hospital above psychie trauma, so a new policy of axillary sampling were tried in last few years to oppose full axillary clearance but the major problem of axillary sampling is that it is poorly defined and no agreement as to the extent or the boundaries of axillary surgery when sampled. The concept of SLNB is based . on hypothesis that lymph flow is orderly and predictable and tumor cells disseminate sequentially. The SLN is defined as the first lymph node encountering tumor cells and its histological status predicts the axillary lymph node basin status.