EVALUATION OF DISSECTION OF AXILLA IN MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 143  (3) , 395-397
Abstract
Fifty consecutive unselected patients with infiltrating carcinoma of the breast underwent radical mastectomy in 2 consecutive stages. The initial operation was a modified radical mastectomy, with preservation of the pectoral muscles, and the 2nd stage, a procedure to transform the initial operation into a standard radical mastectomy. An analysis of the location and the number of the lymph nodes recovered in the 2 stage operation showed that a so-called modified radical mastectomy was inadequate to ensure the clearing of the axilla. Lymph nodes were recovered at the 2nd stage of the operation in 36 patients, and 7 of these patients had metastasis. Modified radical mastectomy was effective in erradicating the lymph nodes of the lower part of the axilla but inadequate for lymph nodes at levels II and III and, especially, the interpectoral lymph nodes.

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