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The surgical and oncologic significance of the axillary arch during axillary lymphadenectomy
A J Petrasek1, J L Semple, D R McCready
1Department of Surgery, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Ont.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien De Chirurgie
|February 1, 1997
Abstract:
An uncommon and often-overlooked anatomic variation of the latissimus dorsi muscle is the axillary arch. It is formed by an anomalous slip of the muscle that arises from the body of the latissimus dorsi but then inserts along with the pectoralis major muscle anterior to the axillary vein and neurovascular bundle. If an axillary arch is encountered during axillary lymphadenectomy, the lymph nodes posterior and lateral to the arch should be excised. Experience with a number of cases is used to consider local therapeutic and staging factors.