[Meta-analysis of endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection versus conventional open excision for breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the surgical outcome and the clinical value between endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection and conventional open excision in the treatment of breast cancer.


METHODS
A computer-based online search of Medline, PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Library, Vip, Wanfang, CNKI and Chinese Biological Medicine Database was performed, and conference literatures were manually searched. Using the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, all randomized controlled trials comparing endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection and conventional open excision were systematically reviewed. The Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.0 software was used for data analysis.


RESULTS
A total of 25 studies involving 3 028 patients were included. The results of Meta-analyses showed that there were no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes harvested and recurrence between endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection and conventional open excision (P>0.05). The operative time of endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection was longer than that of conventional open excision. However, it was superior to open excision in the rate of complication and intra-operative blood loss (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
As a minimally invasive surgery technique to treat breast cancer, endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection might be a promising replacement for conventional axillary lymph node dissection.
Department of General Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Boni
B
Ding
Department of General Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Liyuan
L
Qian
Department of Transplantation Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Yujun
Y
Zhao
Department of General Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Wei
W
Wu
Department of General Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Xuedong
X
Chen
D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local