Anatomical criteria based padronization of the axilary lymph nodes nomenclature

Abstract

The axillary lymph nodes collect lymph of the entire upper limb and part of the thoracic wall. The breast gland drains 80% of its lymph to these lymph nodes. The knowledge of each breast quarter drainage to the respective axillaries groups is very important to the surgeon who performs axillary empting, as well as to radiotherapists while proceeding complementary treatment. The anatomic, oncologic and surgical literature name the axillary lymph nodes in groups with different number of components and with a diverse nomenclature, what causes confusion in the knowledge difusion about malignant pathologies in this area. Trying to solve these questions, a bibliographic review was carried out, as well as dissections in order to standardize the different number of axillary lymph nodes and their nomenclature. Six axillas from fixed corpses and unfixed corps were dissected. In literature, 21 different classifications for the axillary lymph nodes were found. According to the findings, the best nomenclature to be followed is the one which classifies them into five groups called: apical group, central group, lateral group, lateral thoracic group and subscapular group.