Axillary dissection
Axillary dissection is a
Appropriate Candidates for Treatment
This treatment is only appropriate for women who are node positive or who have tested positive for disease in the armpit area. Conducting the axillary dissection procedure on patients who are node negative can result in over-treatment and unnecessary procedures for patients to endure.[3] To determine if a patient is permitted to receive treatment, the number of affected axillary nodes will have to be counted for. If there are only one or two affected guardian lymph nodes, then it may not be necessary for the patient to undergo the axillary dissection procedure. However, if a patient contains at least three or more affected guardian lymph nodes, then a physician will recommend that the patient undergo axillary dissection.[4]
The Three Levels of Axillary Lymph Nodes
There are three different levels of axillary lymph nodes. Level I refers to lymph nodes located below the axillary vein or towards the very bottom end of the pectoralis minor muscle. Level II refers to lymph nodes located directly under the pectoralis minor muscle. Level III refers to lymph nodes that are located over the pectoralis minor muscle and would require an intense procedure. Typically lymph nodes located in Levels I and II are removed with the axillary dissection. A mastectomy may also have to accompany this procedure in some cases depending on the patient.[2]
References
- ISBN 9780789488657.
- ^ a b "Axillary Lymph Node Dissection". Breastcancer.org. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ a b c "Axillary Dissection: Overview, Periprocedural Care, Technique". 2020-01-17.
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(help) - ^ a b Brown, Ken. "Axillary Node Dissection: Johns Hopkins Breast Center". www.hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.