title: Placement of subcutaneous chest wall ports ipsilateral to axillary lymph node dissection.
abstract: Without scientific evidence, practice has been to avoid placing chest wall ports ipsilateral to axillary lymph node dissection. Because the lymphatic system in the chest wall drains via both the internal mammary and axillary nodes, it seems that this practice might unduly restrict venous access options. Our study was designed to evaluate outcome after placement of chest wall ports ipsilateral to axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer. Twenty-eight patients were studied in this retrospective two-institution review. The incidence of lymphedema after port placement (3.6%) was no higher than that reported after axillary lymph node dissection alone.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Ripal T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: George I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Getrajdman
authors.forename: Karen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gandras
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Covey
authors.forename: Lynn A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khilnani
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000601:surgery; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013909:Thorax