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Learning Curve and Initial Results of Robot-Assisted Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Node-Positive Breast Cancer:
Zhijie Wu1, Zuxiao Chen1, Zongyan Li1
1Thyroid and Breast Surgery Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Breast Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Biomedical Innovation Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Introduction:
Robot-assisted axillary lymph node dissection (RALND) remains underutilized. This study presents the initial outcomes of RALND in patients with breast cancer and positive lymph nodes.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of breast cancer patients from our hospital's single center who underwent RALND treatment between March 2024 and January 2025. Clinicopathological characteristics, learning curve, and surgical outcomes were evaluated to assess the efficacy and safety of RALND.
Results:
A total of 46 patients who underwent RALND were included in the analysis. The docking time ranged from 8 to 10 min, and the average operation duration was 46.58 ± 7.75 min. After accumulating experience in 21 patients, the operative time stabilized at approximately 40 min. The mean blood loss was 3.74 ± 2.27 mL, and the mean number of lymph nodes dissected was 17.81 ± 6.62, of which 2 (0.4) were positive. All 46 patients exhibited good shoulder joint movement (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score 8.35 ± 2.87), with no wound infections or lymphatic leakages observed.
Conclusions:
Based on our initial experience, RALND is a safe surgical procedure that may be associated with reduced intraoperative bleeding and favorable short-term upper limb function, suggesting potential advantages that warrant further validation in comparative studies.