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Review
. 2023 Feb;37(1):51-77.
doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.08.005.

Surgical Management of the Axilla for Breast Cancer

Alison Laws  1 , Olga Kantor  1 , Tari A King  2
Affiliations
Review

Surgical Management of the Axilla for Breast Cancer

Alison Laws et al. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

This review discusses the contemporary surgical management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. Surgical paradigms are highlighted by clinical nodal status at presentation and treatment approach, including upfront surgery and neoadjuvant systemic therapy settings. This review focuses on the increasing opportunities for de-escalating the extent of axillary surgery in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy, while also reviewing the remaining indications for axillary clearance with axillary lymph node dissection.

Keywords: Axillary surgery; Breast cancer; MARI; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Targeted axillary dissection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure T.A. King reports speakers honoraria and advisory board participation for Exact Sciences (formerly Genomic Health) and serves on the Global Advisory Board, Besins Healthcare. The remaining authors have no disclosures.