title: Current Management of the Axilla.
abstract: Despite advances in estimating prognosis and predicting response to adjuvant systemic therapy, the status of the axillary lymph nodes remains a critical component in initial surgical planning and in determining therapeutic strategies for patients with breast cancer. Buoyed by evidence from multi-institutional randomized clinical trials, the last 2 decades have witnessed remarkable and practice-changing advances in our approach to the axilla. This review concentrates on the current best practice in axillary management for both node-negative and node-positive patients, with particular focus on the evolving management of the axilla in the era of neoadjuvant systemic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCARTAN
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gemignani
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D061206:Neoplasm Micrometastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012086:Reoperation; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy