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Management of the Axilla in Early Breast Cancer

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Optimizing Breast Cancer Management

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 173))

Abstract

Management of the axilla in early breast cancer patients has significantly evolved in the last several decades. With the arrival of the sentinel lymph node biopsy, surgical practice for axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer has become gradually less invasive and formal axillary lymph node dissection has been confined to selected patients. Over the last two decades, evidence from randomized clinical trials have allowed for the de-escalation of axillary surgery in the management of early stage breast cancer. Advances in the staging and treatment of the axilla constitute a key component in determining initial surgical planning and therapeutic strategies in the treatment of early breast cancer. This chapter provides an updated review on the history, evolution, and current practices for axillary management in patients with early breast cancer, with particular attention to the surgical recommendations and controversial scenarios of the evolving management of the axilla.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Monica G. Valero & Mehra Golshan

  2. Breast Oncology Program, Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancer, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Mehra Golshan

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  1. Monica G. Valero
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  2. Mehra Golshan
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Correspondence to Mehra Golshan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    William J. Gradishar

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Valero, M.G., Golshan, M. (2018). Management of the Axilla in Early Breast Cancer. In: Gradishar, W. (eds) Optimizing Breast Cancer Management. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 173. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70197-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70197-4_4

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