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RACS ASC 2025
Indocyanine green Fluorescence guided Axillary Reverse Mapping for axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer: the F-ARM trial
Poster
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Poster

Disciplines

Breast Surgery

Presentation Description

Institution: Chris O'Brien Lifehouse - NSW, Australia

Purpose: Breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is a significant complication after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) is a technique that enables discrimination of upper limb lymphatics in the axilla from that of the breast. This study aims to evaluate ARM node identification using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence and potential predictive factors of metastatic ARM nodes. Methodology: Prospective trial of patients with invasive breast cancer undergoing ALND enrolling since 2022. Fluorescence imaging using ICG was performed during standard ALND to identify ARM nodes. Fluorescent lymph nodes were found and excised. Their localisation was documented in one of four zones, anatomically divided by intersection of lateral thoracic vein vertically and second intercostobrachial nerve horizontally. Excised ARM lymph nodes were isolated from the rest of the axillary nodes and sent separately for histopathology. Trial registration: ACTRN12621000817842. Results: One hundred patients enrolled to date. Ninety-five percent of patients had at least one ARM node identified. There were a total of 111 ARM nodes, mostly (68.5%) localised in the upper lateral zone. 18.9% (18 of 95) of patients with ARM nodes had metastatic disease within the ARM node. In multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor for ARM node metastases was higher nodal stage N2/ N3 (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Halfway trial data suggests that ARM using ICG fluorescence could be a useful technique to identify ARM nodes during ALND. More accrual of patients could determine other possible predictive factors for metastatic ARM nodes, potentially allowing for more selective axillary dissection in low risk patients if safe.
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Authors

Dr Chu Luan Nguyen - , Dr Susannah Graham - , Dr Farhad Azimi - , A/Prof Cindy Mak - , A/Prof Carlo Pulitano - , A/Prof Sanjay Warrier -