Axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer: from historical axillary surgery to updated advances in the preoperative diagnosis and axillary management
Tong Wu,
Qian Long,
Liyun Zeng,
Jinfeng Zhu,
Hongyu Gao,
Yueqiong Deng,
Yi Han,
Limeng Qu,
Wenjun Yi
Affiliations
Tong Wu
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Qian Long
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Liyun Zeng
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Jinfeng Zhu
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Hongyu Gao
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Yueqiong Deng
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Yi Han
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Limeng Qu
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Wenjun Yi
Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Abstract Axillary lymph node status, which was routinely assessed by axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) until the 1990s, is a crucial factor in determining the stage, prognosis, and therapeutic strategy used for breast cancer patients. Axillary surgery for breast cancer patients has evolved from ALND to minimally invasive approaches. Over the decades, the application of noninvasive imaging techniques, machine learning approaches and emerging clinical prediction models for the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis greatly improves clinical diagnostic efficacy and provides optimal surgical selection. In this work, we summarize the historical axillary surgery and updated perspectives of axillary management for breast cancer patients.
