title: Comparison of mastoscopic and conventional axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer: long-term results from a randomized, multicenter trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the long-term results of mastoscopic axillary lymph node dissection (MALND) and conventional axillary lymph node dissection (CALND).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2005, a group of 1027 consecutive patients with operable breast cancer were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study groups: MALND and CALND. The median follow-up was 63 months. The primary end points of the study were operative outcomes, complication reduction, function conservation, and cosmetics. The secondary end points were disease-free and overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operative blood loss in the MALND group was less than in the CALND group (P<.001). The patients who underwent MALND had less axillary pain, numbness or paresthesias, and arm swelling (P<.001). The aesthetic appearance of the axilla in the MALND group was much better than that in the CALND group (P=.001 at 6 months and P=.002 at 24 months). A significant difference was found between the 2 groups in distant metastasis (P=.04). The disease-free survival rate was 64.5% in the MALND group and 60.8% in the CALND group (P=.88). The overall survival rate was 81.7% in the MALND group and 78.6% in the CALND group (P=.95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with CALND, MALND has advantages in operative outcomes, complication reduction, function conservation, and cosmetics.
authors.affiliation: Fuxing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. luochengyu@163.com
authors.forename: Chengyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qiuru
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Suhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shubing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Qingliang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhensheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Fanjie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Xuandong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xianlan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ruihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiufeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chaoying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate