Axillary lymphadenectomy prepared by fat and lymph node suction in breast cancer

To describe a new technique of axillary dissection and evaluate the results.

Axillary lymphadenectomy prepared by fat and lymph node suction was performed on 43 patients with breast cancer and uninvolved axilla on physical examination. The mean follow-up was 18 months (range 12-27). After lipolysis and liposuction of the axilla, lymph node dissection was performed by axilloscopy in patients treated with conservative surgery. For patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy, a mastectomy with open axillary dissection was carried out. The axillary space was drained until less than 20 ml of lymphorrhea was being produced per day. Seventeen modified radical mastectomies (group M) and 26 lumpectomies (group L) were performed.

No injury of muscles, vessels or nerves was observed. An average of 13.6 lymph nodes (8-31) were removed. In group L, the mean number of lymph nodes removed by liposuction, axilloscopy and control incision was 2.5, 5.4 and 4.2, respectively. In group M, the mean number of lymph nodes removed was 14. None of the 589 lymph nodes examined showed any pathological trauma. Fourteen patients (32%) had more than one histologically positive node. The mean quantity of lymphorrhea was 390 ml in group M and 275 ml in group L. The mean duration of drainage was 6 days in group M and 5 days in group L. Four patients had seromas which required punctures. Two patients had shoulder restriction (movements < 90 degrees) at 12 months. No arm oedema was seen.

Axillary lymphadenectomy prepared by fat and lymph node suction is a reliable and effective procedure. However, it does not appear to be better than standard dissection as regards post-operative complications, except for arm oedema, but this must be confirmed by further studies.