The breast journal
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Impact of the preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve in axillary lymphadenectomy due to breast cancer.
This study evaluated the relationship between preservation of the intercostobrachial (ICB) nerve and pain sensitivity of the arm, the total time of the surgery, and the number of dissected nodes in patients submitted to axillary lymphadenectomy due to breast cancer. An intervention, prospective, randomized, and double blind study was performed on 85 patients at the State University of Campinas, Brazil, from January 1999 to July 2000. The patients were divided into two groups, according to whether the ICB nerve was preserved or not. ⋯ No significant difference was observed in the total time of the surgery (p=0.76) and the number of dissected nodes between the two groups (p=0.59). Local relapse was not observed in any group after 36 months of follow-up. These data support that preservation of the ICB nerve is feasible and leads to a significant decrease in the alteration of pain sensitivity of the arm, without interfering with the total time of the surgery, the number of dissected nodes, and local relapse rate.