Possible causes of armpit pain range from the minor irritation of clothing, or an infection that goes away quickly, to serious medical issues such as swollen lymph nodes and cancer-related pain.
Historically, surgeons removed a large number of lymph nodes from the armpit to determine if cancer has spread. This procedure, while effective, often led to lymphedema, a condition characterized by ...
The average adult has more than 800 lymph nodes that filter lymph and contain immune cells that fight infection. The largest clusters of lymph nodes are found in the neck, armpit, chest, upper abdomen ...
Intraoperative frozen biopsy and sentinel lymph nodes technique have not shown sufficient accuracy to avoid extended lymphadenectomy, due to the significant rates of skip lymphatic metastasis.
Micrometastases are small collections of cancer cells that have been shed from a cancerous tumor and have spread to another part of the body through the blood or lymph nodes. Micrometastases can then ...
McLaughlin says. Some patients no longer need lymph nodes under the armpit removed. Contemporary mastectomy techniques focus on removing less skin and preserving the nipple and areola when possible.