Assessment of risks and complications, associated with the breast cancer surgery with axillary dissection

Abstract

Background: Need to dissect axillary nodes in patients with early breast cancer and clinically negative axilla remains controversial. To assess the role of axillary radiotherapy (RT) in reducing axillary metastases in patients with early breast cancer who did not receive axillary dissection. Management of breast cancer traditionally involves the axillary lymph node dissection. Axillary lymph node dissection has known complications like lymphoedema, pain, paraesthesia. The occurrence of complications varies across the care centres. The present study describes the complications of breast cancer surgery, along with axillary dissection at a tertiary care centre in India. Aim & Objective: To assess the risks and complications, associated with the breast cancer surgery with axillary dissection. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational hospital based study involving 72 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection at the tertiary care centre. The patient data were collected during the follow up period regarding complications of breast surgery with axillary lymph node dissection described in relation to age group, diabetes status, early or locally advanced breast cancer, use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and type of surgery like Modified radical Mastectomy (MRM) or breast conservation surgery (BCS).