Morbidity and quality of life
sensory loss, breast cancer, paresthesia, pain, abduction deficits, decreased shoulder mobility
BREAST CANCER, ARM SWELLING, PARESTHESIA, LYMPHEDEMA, CHRONIC PAIN
As evidence on oncological safety of de-escalated axillary surgery is continuously provided, also the aspect of morbidity and quality of life is highly relevant, especially in light of long-term breast cancer survivorship. Axillary lymph node dissection is associated with a highly relevant rate of morbidity and decreased QoL.Morbidity after axillary surgery typically comprises lymphedema and arm swelling, arm abduction deficits and chronic pain and/or sensory loss. The OTOASOR trial provided information of significantly increased rates of compound morbidity (lymphedema, arm swelling, arm pain, paresthesia, and decreased shoulder mobility) in the ALND group (15.3%), compared to the SLNB group (4.7%) after one year. The subgroup of patients receiving ALND followed by RNI showed even higher rates of compound morbidity of 31.5% [Patients enrolled in the ALMANAC trial showed a reduced QoL and arm function scores at 12-months after ALND [