The yield of axillary clearance in breast cancer in Khartoum locality -Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

Axillary clearance is an established part of the management of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the number of retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) after axillary clearance surgery.

METHODS

Over a 2-year period (January 2020-December 2022), data from 96 patients, who underwent axillary clearance surgery in Khartoum locality, were collected. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the yield of axillary clearance.

RESULTS

The mean of total number of retrieved LNs was 12.8, the mean of positive LNs was 2.6. There was statistical correlation between the total number of retrieved LNs and total number of positive LNs ( = 0.000). 53.1% of patients had stage II breast cancer, with 91% of them having invasive ductal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy decreased the total number of retrieved LNs ( = 0.001). No statistically significant correlation was found between previous axillary surgery and the number of the retrieved LNs ( > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There were enough axillary LNs for histological studies; the total number of positive LNs increased with the increase in total number of retrieved LNs. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduced the yield of axillary clearance.