Endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy without prior liposuction in 100 patients with invasive breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate intra- and postoperative outcome after endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy without liposuction. One hundred patients with early stage breast cancer were treated by breast conserving therapy and endoscopic technique. The median duration of operation was 75 minutes (30-130 minutes). Switching from endoscopy to an open technique was necessary for two patients. The median number of removed lymph nodes was 16. Postoperatively, seroma developed in four patients, temporal winged scapula developed in three patients, and a wound infection in one patient. On postoperative day 5, arm mobility was not restricted for 89 patients. After a median follow-up of 14 months, 14 patients reported persistent impairment of sensibility, and two patients did not have full shoulder mobility. Axillary recurrence has not developed in any patient. Endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy can be performed safely without previous liposuction.