title: Analysis of selected factors influencing seroma formation in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the work was to analyze the impact of selected factors on the incidence of seroma formation in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients had mastectomy performed using the same operative technique with electrocoagulation. The amount of seroma formed after surgery and its duration were correlated with selected demographic, clinical and pathological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cumulative total seroma volume collected by the end of treatment was higher and the overall time of seroma treatment was longer in patients over the age of 60 years (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). Duration of seroma was significantly longer in obese patients (p = 0.036). The cumulative total seroma volume collected by the end of treatment was higher and the overall time of seroma treatment was longer in patients who had over 130 ml of lymph drained during the first 24 postoperative hours (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). Additionally, longer duration of seroma was observed in patients with pathological stage I and II according to TNM-UICC (p = 0.042) and in patients with ≥ 1200 g weight resected of mammary gland (p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age and obesity are important prognostic factors influencing seroma formation in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy. The amount of lymph formed during first postoperative day may have predictive value in assessing cumulative total seroma volume collected during treatment and its overall duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zieliński
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaworski
authors.forename: Ninela
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irga
authors.forename: Janusz Wiesław
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kruszewski
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaskiewicz
keywords: axillary dissection; breast cancer; drain; mastectomy; seroma