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Management of Axilla in Invasive Breast Cancer

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Breast Disease

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Abstract

The majority of invasive breast cancer patients will develop axillary lymph node metastases prior to developing distant metastases. The management of the axilla in the treatment of invasive breast cancer thus remains a critical component of therapy. It influences the AJCC staging of invasive breast cancer. This chapter deals with the evaluation of the axilla. Preoperatively, it includes clinical exam, ultrasound evaluation and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) of abnormal axillary lymph nodes. Intraoperatively, this includes sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND). This review addresses some of the changing philosophy with management of the axilla in invasive breast cancer and the controversies and paradigm shifts that accompany the same. The role of axillary evaluation of breast cancer in certain special situations is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, The Breast Center, 702 Canton Road, Marietta, GA, 30060, USA

    Paulomi Shroff MD & Philip Israel MD

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  1. Paulomi Shroff MD
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  2. Philip Israel MD
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Correspondence to Paulomi Shroff MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Advocate Center for Breast Health, Advocate Cancer Institute, Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA

    Adam I. Riker

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Shroff, P., Israel, P. (2015). Management of Axilla in Invasive Breast Cancer. In: Riker, A. (eds) Breast Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1145-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1145-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1144-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1145-5

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