Clinical application of Kodama lymphadenectomy in Auchincloss operation for breast carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and significance of Kodama lymphadenectomy in cleaning LEVEL Ⅲ lymph nodes in Auchincloss operation for breast carcinoma.Methods: Sixty-eight breast cancer patients were treated with Auchincloss operation combined with cleaning LEVEL Ⅲ lymph nodes using Kodama method.The metastatic rate of LEVEL Ⅲ axillary lymph nodes and its related factors were analyzed.Results: The metastatic rate of LEVEL Ⅲ axillary lymph nodes was 30.88%.There were not significant correlations between LEVEL Ⅲ axillary lymph node metastasis and age,number of tumor and histological type(P>0.05).There were significant correlations between LEVEL Ⅲ axillary lymph node metastasis and tumor size,TNM stage and molecular type(P<0.05).Conclusions: Auchincloss operation combined with cleaning LEVEL Ⅲ lymph nodes using Kodama method in treating breast carcinoma patients is necessary,feasible and safe.