Role of Axillary Reverse Mapping in Reducing the Risk of Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients: Current Perspectives

Abstract

Axillary reverse mapping is the technique of mapping and subsequently preserving the arm lymphatic drainage during axillary dissection. In 2007 Hiroo Suami described a constant sentry node draining most of the upper limb in anatomical dissection of cadavers. The presence of this node and its fairly constant location was later confirmed by many authors in clinical studies. With the use of blue dye alone, the detection rates are low than with radio-isotope. Different authors have shown in subsequent studies that preservation of the node and lymphatics is possible during axillary dissection without compromising the radicality of the procedure. There have also been studies which have anastamosed the efferent lymphatics from the ARM node to the venous tributaries of the axillary vein. Though small, there are atleast 7 studies which do report a lower rate of lymphedema following preservation of the ARM node with or without lymphatico venous anastamoses. The possibility of preserving the ARM node in a low nodal burden axilla to reduce the incidence of lymphedema seems promising.

Keywords: Axillary reverse mapping, Lymphedema, sentinel node, breast cancer

Cite this Article

D.K. Vijaykumar. Role of Axillary Reverse Mapping in Reducing the Risk of Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients: Current Perspectives. Research and Reviews: Journal of Oncology and Hematology. 2017; 6(1): 6–10p.