Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: Dead or Still Alive?

Overview

Journal Breast

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Endocrinology
Oncology

Date 2023 Jan 26

PMID 36702672

Authors

Anna C Beck

Monica Morrow

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Although sentinel lymph node biopsy is now the primary method of axillary staging and is therapeutic for patients with limited nodal disease, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is still necessary for staging in groups where sentinel lymph node biopsy has not been proven to be accurate and to maintain local control in those with a heavy axillary tumor burden. Additionally, newer approaches to systemic therapy tailored to risk level sometimes necessitate knowledge of the number of involved axillary nodes which can only be obtained with ALND. Ongoing trials will address whether there are additional circumstances where radiotherapy can replace ALND.

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