[Lymph drainage from the breast to the parasternal lymph nodes]
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Updated: Nov 7, 2026
Single-port Non-liposuction Endoscopic Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: April 3, 2026
K Kett1, K Szilágyi, L Schmidt
1Baranya megyei Kórház Sebészeti Osztály, Pécsi Orvostudományi Egyetem, Tanszék.
Breast lymphography revealed linkage between the axillary and parasternal lymph nodes in three out of 55 patients with breast cancer. In all the cases the efferent lymph vessels outlined laterally and, according to Berg's scheme, lymph node groups I, II and III were filled. Lymph vessel responsible for the filling of the parasternal lymph nodes branched from the area of group I lymph nodes. In two out of the 3 cases axillary metastasis was detected in one case, however, the axillary was found unaffected. The lymph vessel linkage observed doesn't seem to support the widely accepted concept, according to which there are only direct efferent lymph vessels running from the breast to the parasternal lymph nodes. This finding also explains why the incidence of parasternal metastases in the breast is higher in the case of tumorous obstruction of the axillary lymph nodes.
Breast lymphography revealed linkage between the axillary and parasternal lymph nodes in three out of 55 patients with breast cancer. In all the cases the efferent lymph vessels outlined laterally and, according to Berg's scheme, lymph node groups I, II and III were filled. Lymph vessel responsible for the filling of the parasternal lymph nodes branched from the area of group I lymph nodes. In two out of the 3 cases axillary metastasis was detected in one case, however, the axillary was found unaffected. The lymph vessel linkage observed doesn't seem to support the widely accepted concept, according to which there are only direct efferent lymph vessels running from the breast to the parasternal lymph nodes. This finding also explains why the incidence of parasternal metastases in the breast is higher in the case of tumorous obstruction of the axillary lymph nodes.
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