new practical classification of axillary lymph nodes

ABSTRACT

Leveling of axillary nodes in relation to the pectoralis minor muscle is not practical anymore as the muscle is not included in the operative field or the surgical specimen removed. In this study, 21 axillae in the postmortem room were examined. In ten subjects, the axillary vessels were injected with polyvinyl chloride latex and the relation of their branches to the pectoralis minor was assessed. In the remaining eleven subjects, axillary evacuation was done in relation to the lateral and supreme thoracic vessels. The removed specimens were fixed, defatened and transilluminated for nodes dissection and counting. Accordingly, the axillary nodes were classified into three major groups The lateral thoracic group with an average number of 14 nodes [SD +/- 6.1], the interthoracic group average of 6 nodes [SD +/- 3.78]and the supreme thoracic group average of 3 nodes [SD +/- 2.38]