Significance of Metastatic Positive Lateral Group of Lymph Nodes in Patients undergoing Axillary Dissection for Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

xillary surgery has revolutionized in recent years with the use of sentinel node sampling to assess axillary node involvement, thus preventing patients from undergoing unnecessary axillary clearance, which can be associated with debilitating consequences. In this study conducted on 50 cases; during either conservative breast surgery or modified radical mastectomy, the lateral group of axillary nodes (lying lateral to the thoracodorsal pedicle) was sent separately for pathological assessment. The 50 female patients presented to us by primary breast cancer, 33 (66%) masses were located in the right breast, 17 (34%) masses were located in the left breast. The commonest site of the breast mass in the studied cases was UOQ in 38 patients which are representing 76% of the cases. We concluded that surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment of non-metastatic breast cancer, and a complete surgical resection is necessary for optimal local control. In a lower middle income country like Egypt, there is a higher stage at presentation and a higher incidence of axillary nodal involvement. We recommend a routine axillary clearance up including the lateral group in node-positive axilla, especially when multiple lower-level axillary nodes are involved, in node nagative other group axilla, the lateral group dissection should be avoided. This will reduce postoperative complication, especially lymphedema of upper limb. However, more studies on more numbers of patients are required for proper statistical significance.