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Endoscopic axillary lymph node retrieval for breast cancer

 
Guidance issued
 
Number: IPG147

Summary

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on endoscopic axillary lymph node retrieval for breast cancer.

Description

Endoscopic axillary lymph node retrieval is a minimally invasive technique for removing the lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla) in people with breast cancer. The lymph nodes are then examined for evidence of cancer spread. This is part of the process of staging, which helps to guide treatment.

Standard treatment involves surgeons removing lymph nodes for staging under direct vision through an incision in the axillary skin. In endoscopic axillary (axilloscopic) lymph node removal, the surgeon makes very small incisions in the axillary skin and removes the lymph nodes using an endoscope.

Endoscopic axillary sentinel node biopsy is a variation of the procedure involving injection of a dye into the breast lump. The single node to which the dye spreads first (the sentinel node) is removed and biopsied. If no cancer cells are found in that node, no further nodes are removed.

OPCS code:

Details

Arrangement:
Special
Topic area:
Cancer
Surgical procedures
Specialty:
Clinical oncology
Medical oncology
Specialist advice has been sought from:

British Association of Surgical Oncology

British Association of Endocrine Surgeons

Date notified to NICE:
01 April 2002
Provisional consultation date:
July 2005
Guidance issue date:
14 December 2005

Contact details:

Project manager (for general enquiries or comments)
(for general enquiries or comments)
Contact Address:

Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA

Links: