Clinical Research of Complementary Low Level Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Patients with Negative Sentinel Lymph Node

Objective:To study the distribution of positive axillary lymph node(LN)of the breast cancer patients with false negative(FN)sentinel lymph node(SLN)and seek the possibility of a new operating type which could reserve the axillary functions but could not omit positive LN beyond the axillary lymph node dissection(ALND)and SLN.Method:A total of 80 breast cancer patients with negative SLN were performed ALND simultaneously.Axillary specimens were divided into two sections of the upper and the lower according to the highest branch of nervi intercostobrachiales,and were taken for pathological examination respectively.Result:Five cases were proved to be FN SLN by pathology after operation.The total of 9 positive LN were located in the lower section of axilla.Conclusion:This study demonstrated that the positive LN omittance in patients with FN SLN are all located in lower section of axilla,and can be completely remove by complementary low level ALND which can preserve the axillary functions including nervi intercostobrachiales.