title: Venous anomalies of the axilla: a single-institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical treatment is still the cornerstone in the treatment of breast cancer, a very common neoplasia, particularly affecting the female elderly population. Axillary dissection is crucial in the treatment of some tumours, but variations in axillary vessels anatomy are poorly described in standard anatomy and surgical textbook. We aimed to describe anatomical variations in axillary vessels found in our institutional experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective 3-year study was conducted in our institution from January 2012 to December 2014. Sixty-one consecutive axillary lymph node dissections (ALNDs) were performed in 61 patients who underwent surgery for stage II and III invasive breast cancer. Anatomical details of axillary vascular anatomy and its variations have been evaluated, described and stored in a prospective database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one ALNDs have been performed in the study period. The anatomy of lateral thoracic vein, angular vein and axillary vein was studied and compared with standard anatomical description. Eighteen percentage of venous variations were found out of the 61 dissection performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular anatomy of axilla is complex and variable. A better knowledge of all possible variations might be helpful in preventing injuries during ALND.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. vivianasollazzo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sollazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Micco
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariano Cesare
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peltrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schettino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Domenico
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Limite
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D001367:Axillary Vein / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Axillary anatomy; Axillary dissection; Axillary vein; Breast cancer; Vascular variations