Surgery
Mastectomy
Lumpectomy
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Breast Reconstruction
Axillary Node Dissection
Informed Consent
Radiation Therapy
Treatment Decisions
Additional Therapy
Treatment Team
Axillary node dissection refers to the staging procedure performed in conjunction with lumpectomy for breast conservation or mastectomy. The procedure involves an axillary incision below the hairline when performed with a lumpectomy and is performed through the mastectomy incision with removal of the breast.
Removal of level I and II lymph nodes includes the tissue between the axillary portion of the breast and the area above the axillary vein underlying the pectoral muscles. The axillary nodes (level III nodes) lying superior to the pectoral major muscle are preserved to decrease the incidence of arm edema. It may also remove a small nerve in the process resulting in numbness to the posterior aspect of the arm. Determining whether the lymph nodes are involved with the tumor will stage the cancer to determine if chemotherapy will be needed.
