Patients' and surgeons' perspectives on axillary surgery for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to compare the postoperative morbidity of Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and to compare the views of surgeons and patients regarding postoperative morbidity.


METHODS
A prospective and comparative study was initiated to evaluate, 1 year after surgery, morbidity and sequelae after SLNB in 231 patients. Group I (n=141) underwent SLNB without ALND, group II (n=90) underwent SLNB followed by ALND when SLN where involved. Morbidity analysis was performed, respectively, by surgeons and patients.


RESULTS
One hundred and eighty-five patients (80.5%) completed the questionnaire including 113 with SLNB alone, and 72 with ALND. One year after surgery, SLNB produced less morbidity than ALND for symptoms and function. There were significantly different assessments between surgeons and patients for pain, arm mobility and sensitiveness.


CONCLUSIONS
One-year postoperative morbidity after SLNB is significantly lower than after ALND but views of surgeons and patients appears to be significantly different. Additional data are required to assess late consequences of axillary surgery.
INSERM U379, 13273 Marseille 9, France.
S
S
Arnaud
G
G
Houvenaeghel
V
V
Moutardier
M
M
Butarelli
M
M
Martino
A
A
Tallet
A C
AC
Braud
J
J
Jacquemier
C
C
Julian-Reynier
I
I
Brenot-Rossi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires