Marco Pellicciaro1, Marco Materazzo2, Chiara Buonomo3, Gianluca Vanni1. 1. Breast Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Policlinico Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. 2. Breast Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Policlinico Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy; marco.materazzzo@ptvonline.it. 3. Department of Emergency and Admission, Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine and Anesthetic Science, Policlinico Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) aims to identify and preserve arm drainage in order to prevent lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection. Oncological-safety and feasibility are still debated, especially in patients with locally-advanced breast cancer (LABC). We report the first case of the AXMAP 1.0 study performed in our Institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 52-year-old patient with a triple-negative LABC and partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent axillary lymph-node dissection using fluorescence ARM. RESULTS: Two lymph-nodes draining the ipsilateral upper arm were identified and were not preserved due to suspicion of malignancy. Pathological examination confirmed the presence of malignancy in both lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Further studies should be designed in order to validate the oncological safety of this technique, especially in patients with LABC requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) aims to identify and preserve arm drainage in order to prevent lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection. Oncological-safety and feasibility are still debated, especially in patients with locally-advanced breast cancer (LABC). We report the first case of the AXMAP 1.0 study performed in our Institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 52-year-old patient with a triple-negative LABC and partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent axillary lymph-node dissection using fluorescence ARM. RESULTS: Two lymph-nodes draining the ipsilateral upper arm were identified and were not preserved due to suspicion of malignancy. Pathological examination confirmed the presence of malignancy in both lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Further studies should be designed in order to validate the oncological safety of this technique, especially in patients with LABC requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy.