Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Objective: Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) has been described to protect against lymphedema.This study aimed to explore the oncological safety of ARM in terms of tumor characteristics and other factors. Methods:The study included 81 patients who received mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery for diagnosis of breast cancer and undergo ARM as clinically axillary positive disease. Results:No axillary reverse mapping lymph node (ARMLN) was found for 26 patients (32%).Of the 55 patients with ARMLN, 19 (34%) were malignant and 36 (66%) were benign.A statistically significant relationship was found between ARMLN and the number of lymph nodes dissected (p=0.004).The larger the size of ARMLN dissected, the more likely it is that the lymph nodes will be malignant (p=0.001). Conclusion:Our study suggests that the higher the axillary burden, the more likely it is for ARMLN to be malignant and the less safe its preservation.Additional randomized prospective studies with a focus on patient survival time and recurrence are warranted to verify the potential feasibility of the ARM technique and confirm the reliability of the reported protocols.
Kültüroğlu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.