BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy was implemented in the treatment of early @entity0 with the aim of reducing shoulder and arm morbidity. Relatively few prospective studies have been published where the morbidity was assessed by clinical examination. Very few studies have examined the impact on shoulder mobility of node positive @entity1 having a secondary axillary dissection because of the findings of metastases postoperatively. AIM: We aimed to investigate the objective and subjective arm morbidity in node negative and node positive @entity1 . METHODS AND MATERIALS: In a prospective study, 395 @entity1 with @entity5 less than 4 cm, were included. @entity1 were recruited from seven Danish @entity0 clinics. Both subjective and objective arm and shoulder morbidity were measured before, 6 and 18 months after the operation. RESULTS: Comparing node negative @entity1 having a sentinel lymph node biopsy with node negative @entity1 having a lymph node dissection of levels I and II of the axilla, we found significant increase in arm volume among the @entity1 who had an axillary dissection. Only minor, but significant, differences in shoulder mobility were observed comparing the two groups of node negative @entity1 . Highly significant difference was found comparing sensibility. Comparing the morbidity in node positive @entity1 who had a one-step axillary dissection with @entity1 having a two-step procedure (sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by delayed axillary dissection) revealed no difference in objective or subjective arm morbidity. CONCLUSION: Node negative @entity1 operated with sentinel lymph node biopsy have less arm morbidity compared with node negative @entity1 operated with axillary lymph node dissection. Node positive @entity1 who had a secondary axillary lymph node dissection after sentinel lymph node biopsy had no difference in either objective or subjective morbidity compared with node positive @entity1 having a one-step axillary dissection.

Arm morbidity following sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection: a study from the Danish XXXX Cooperative Group.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'Patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumors'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer']
@entity0 :: (MESH:D001943,Disease) :: ['Breast Cancer']
