Axillary lymphoceles after surgery for breast cancer: Pathogenesis and prevention

We report a retrospective series of 126 patients seen in 1992 for conservative surgery (group T) or Patey procedure (group P) for breast cancer. We looked for factors predictive of axillary lymphocele and their prevention. Axillary lymphadenectomy performed in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer leads to a certain degree of morbidity including the development of lymphoceles. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 16 in group T and 19 in group P. Mean lymphorrhea was 741 cm(3). Two factors were significantly implicated in the pathogenesis of postoperative lymphorrhea : the number of nodes resected (p < 0.005) and obesity (p < 0.001). Prevention of lymphoceles requires meticulous lymphostasis and reduction of the surgical detachment spaces.