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. 2023 Jun:69:469-475.
doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.01.009. Epub 2023 Jan 23.

Axillary lymph node dissection: Dead or still alive?

Anna C Beck  1 , Monica Morrow  2
Affiliations

Axillary lymph node dissection: Dead or still alive?

Anna C Beck et al. Breast. 2023 Jun.

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.

Keywords: Limit 6): axillary lymph node dissection; axillary surgery; de-escalation; sentinel lymph node biopsy; systemic therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest All authors have no conflict of interest disclosures to report.

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