Comparison of side effects between sentinel lymph node and axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is often associated with permanent arm side effects. Side effects after sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) should be less common, because the surgery is less extensive.


METHODS
The study compared side effects and interference with daily life between 169 women who underwent an SLND and 78 who underwent an ALND for breast cancer. Patients rated symptom severity and interference with daily life caused by pain, numbness, limitation of arm range of motion (ROM), and arm swelling at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery by using the Measure of Arm Symptom Survey. Repeated-measures and regression analyses for each time period were used to determine associations between symptoms and dissection type.


RESULTS
At 1 month, SLND patients reported less pain, numbness, limitation in ROM, and seromas than ALND patients. At 6 months, SLND patients had less pain, numbness, and arm swelling, and at 12 months, SLND patients had less numbness, arm swelling, and limitation in ROM than ALND patients. At 1 month, pain, numbness, and limitation in ROM interfered significantly more with daily life for ALND patients. At 6 and 12 months, only numbness interfered more with daily life for ALND patients.


CONCLUSIONS
SLND was associated with fewer side effects than ALND at all time points.
Swenson
Karen K
KK
Park Nicollet Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416, USA. swensk@parknicollet.com
Nissen
Mary J
MJ
Ceronsky
Carolyn
C
Swenson
Lindsey
L
Lee
Martin W
MW
Tuttle
Todd M
TM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires