[Idiopathic axillary web syndrome]

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman who developed a cord of subcutaneous tissue extending from the axilla into the medial arm, accompanied by axillary neuropathic pain, with no history of surgery or infection. The patient was instructed in home exercises, and the condition progressively improved. Four months later, a small cord was visible on abduction with mild axillary dysesthesia, which was less severe than at onset. Diagnosis of exclusion was idiopathic axillary web syndrome (AWS). This syndrome is widely recognized after surgical axillary lymph node removal to treat breast cancer, but the etiopathogenesis is still unknown. Published reports of AWS with no history of surgery are rare, but a few reports have described this entity after infection or intense exercise. There are currently no previous reports of idiopathic AWS. The anatomical and clinical presentation, and clinical course of AWS without prior surgery, are similar to those of postoperative AWS.