DEMONSTRATION OF TISSUE ALTERATIONS BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY, AND HISTOLOGY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS WITHOUT LYMPHEDEMA AFTER AXILLARY NODE DISSECTION

A Tassenoy, K Vermeiren, P van der Veen, T Stadnik, F De Ridder, E Peeters, P Van Schuerbeek, J Lamote, P Lievens

Abstract


Estimates of the incidence of arm swellingafter axillary lymph node dissection for breastcancer range from 10 to 37%. Yet the subjectivesensation of edema is described in at least54% of patients. The purpose of this researchwas to examine the structural changesoccurring in the subcutaneous tissue thatmight explain these subjective complaintsusing multiple imaging modalities. Two femalecadavers with unilateral breast amputationand axillary dissection were studied. Thedermal and subcutaneous layers of both armswere visualized with high frequency ultrasonography,and magnetic resonance imagingand spectroscopy (MRS), and tissue biopsieswere taken for histological evaluation.On the operated side, ultrasound imagingshowed a hyperechogenic subcutis and thefat-to-water relationship in adipose cells washigher as measured by MRS. Dissection ofthe arms revealed structural adipose tissuechanges, which were confirmed by microscopicevaluation.

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