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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 9/2008

01-09-2008 | Breast Oncology

Combined Axillary Reverse Mapping (ARM) Technique for Breast Cancer Patients Requiring Axillary Dissection

Authors: Claude Nos, MD, Gabriel Kaufmann, MD, Krishna B. Clough, MD, Marie-Anne Collignon, MD, Eric Zerbib, MD, Pino Cusumano, MD, Fabrice Lecuru, PhD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 9/2008

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Abstract

Background

The objective of axillary reverse mapping (ARM) is to preserve the main lymphatic chain—with both the nodes and the ducts—in relation to lymphatic arm drainage (LAD) during an axillary dissection (AD).

Methods

From July 2006 to March 2008, 23 patients with stage II or III breast carcinoma requiring an AD underwent an ARM procedure. Identification of the ARM nodes relied on an isotope injection into the web space of the ipsilateral hand. During AD, the radioactive ARM node was localized above the second intercostal brachial nerve, and blue dye was directly injected inside the node to visualize the efferent ducts, constituting the lymphatic ARM chain. The blue and radioactive nodes constituted the ARM sampling, while other nodes were considered part of the AD.

Results

Metastatic lymph node involvement was identified in the AD in 20 of 23 patients, with an average of 4.4 (1–11) nodes involved and an average of 10.7 (7–20) lymph nodes removed. The ARM sampling was performed in 21 of 23 patients (91%), with an average of 1.6 ARM nodes removed. In 18 of these 21 patients (86%), the nodes relating to ARM sampling had no metastatic involvement. There were 3 patients (14%) who demonstrated metastatic involvement of the ARM sampling, and all had pN3a (N+ > 9) involvement of the axilla.

Conclusion

This technique of combined isotopic and blue dye ARM and findings must now be validated. A multicentric study is planned to confirm this data.
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Metadata
Title
Combined Axillary Reverse Mapping (ARM) Technique for Breast Cancer Patients Requiring Axillary Dissection
Authors
Claude Nos, MD
Gabriel Kaufmann, MD
Krishna B. Clough, MD
Marie-Anne Collignon, MD
Eric Zerbib, MD
Pino Cusumano, MD
Fabrice Lecuru, PhD
Publication date
01-09-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-0030-z

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