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Management of the Axilla

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Breast Cancer

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Abstract

Most breast cancer patients with a clinically clear axilla should receive sentinel node biopsy, irrespective of whether they are scheduled for breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy; the principal exception is patients with T4 disease. If the sentinel node is negative, no further axillary treatment is necessary. If the sentinel node is positive, the recommended treatment is axillary dissection, although in selected patients, this invasive surgical approach brings no benefits. No axillary treatment (not even sentinel node biopsy) is being investigated in patients whose axilla is uninvolved by palpation, axillary ultrasound, and needle biopsy. Axillary radiotherapy is an acceptable alternative treatment if the sentinel nodes are positive.

Patients with an involved axilla detected preoperatively (by palpation, ultrasound, or needle biopsy) should also receive axillary dissection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Molecular Senology, Via Ripamonti, 435, Milano, 20141, Italy

    Viviana Galimberti

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  1. Viviana Galimberti
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Correspondence to Viviana Galimberti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Institutee of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Umberto Veronesi

  2. European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Aron Goldhirsch

  3. European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Paolo Veronesi

  4. San Raffaele University and Research Hospital, Milano, Italy

    Oreste Davide Gentilini

  5. European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Maria Cristina Leonardi

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Galimberti, V. (2017). Management of the Axilla. In: Veronesi, U., Goldhirsch, A., Veronesi, P., Gentilini, O., Leonardi, M. (eds) Breast Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48848-6_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48848-6_26

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