J Breast Cancer.  2007 Jun;10(2):107-113. 10.4048/jbc.2007.10.2.107.

Comparison of Early Postoperative Axillary Morbidity Following the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy or Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

• Lee JS
• Hong SJ
• Kim HJ
• Chang MA
• Sung IY
• Gong KY
• Kim EN
• Ahn SH
• So BH

• KMID: 1745050
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2007.10.2.107

Abstract

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a relatively accurate diagnostic method for determining the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis (ALND). SLNB reduces the need for axillary lymph node dissection, thereby decreasing the postoperative axillary morbidity. The present study compared the postoperative axillary morbidity rates during early postoperative days for patients undergoing either SLNB or conventional ALND.
METHODS
We conducted a prospective case-control study of breast cancer patients. The degree of axillary morbidity was compared between 28 SLNB patients (Group I) and 38 ALND patients (Group II).
RESULTS
The SLNB group showed decreased arm swelling and restriction of their shoulder motion in comparison with the conventional axillary dissection group (p<0.05). SLNB and additional lymph node sampling did not result in any additional morbidity.
CONCLUSION
SLNB or lymph node sampling was associated with less axillary morbidity like arm edema, limitation of motion than was conventional ALND. The rate of postoperative axillary morbidity did not differ following lymph node sampling and SLNB. SLNB may be an effective method for diagnosing of axillary lymph node metastasis with decreasing the postoperative axillary morbidity

Keyword

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB); Conventional axillary dissection; Axillary morbidity; Early postoperative period

MeSH Terms

Arm
Breast Neoplasms
Case-Control Studies
Edema
Humans
Lymph Node Excision*
Lymph Nodes*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prospective Studies
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy*
Shoulder

Figure

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  Fig 1 Study design.

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