This is of considerable importance in the spread of breast tumours.The lymph drainage of the breast, as with any other organ, follows the pathway of its blood supply(28).
The deep breast tissues drain into the superficial lymphatic and then to peri-areolar lymphatic plexus.75% of the drainage occurs via lateral and medial trunks extending from the areola to the axilla. Axilla drains to subclavian lymphatic trunk. 25% of lymphatic drainage occurs via internal mammary nodes. Anastomotic lymphatic channels may communicate with contra lateral skin and breast(28).
Axillary vein group: It is the most lateral group lying medial and posterior to axillary vein. It consists of four to six nodes.
Pectoral (anterior) group: It projects at inferior …show more content…
It receives additional lymph flow from posterior neck, trunk and shoulder and drains into central and subclavicular groups. It consists of five to seven nodes(29).
Central group: It lies deep and posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle. It drains into apical and infraclavicular groups. This is the superficial and most easily palpable of axillary nodal groups. It consists of three to four nodes.
Interpectoral (Rotter) groups: They lie between pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles. It drains into central and subclavicular groups. It consists of one to four nodes. Subclavicular (apical) group: It lies medial and posterior to pectoralis minor muscle at apex of axilla. It might be a final common pathway of lymphatic drainage for all other axillary groups. Efferent lymphatics may join thoracic duct, internal jugular vein, subclavian vein or pass to deep cervical nodes. It consists of six to twelve nodes (30).
Internal Mammary (Parasternal) Nodes: It lies in the parasternal intercostal space. Predominantly, it drains the far medial and deep medial breast nodes in the first through the third intercostal spaces. It may be affected in metastatic breast cancer
The deep breast tissues drain into the superficial lymphatic and then to peri-areolar lymphatic plexus.75% of the drainage occurs via lateral and medial trunks extending from the areola to the axilla. Axilla drains to subclavian lymphatic trunk. 25% of lymphatic drainage occurs via internal mammary nodes. Anastomotic lymphatic channels may communicate with contra lateral skin and breast(28).
Axillary vein group: It is the most lateral group lying medial and posterior to axillary vein. It consists of four to six nodes.
Pectoral (anterior) group: It projects at inferior …show more content…
It receives additional lymph flow from posterior neck, trunk and shoulder and drains into central and subclavicular groups. It consists of five to seven nodes(29).
Central group: It lies deep and posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle. It drains into apical and infraclavicular groups. This is the superficial and most easily palpable of axillary nodal groups. It consists of three to four nodes.
Interpectoral (Rotter) groups: They lie between pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles. It drains into central and subclavicular groups. It consists of one to four nodes. Subclavicular (apical) group: It lies medial and posterior to pectoralis minor muscle at apex of axilla. It might be a final common pathway of lymphatic drainage for all other axillary groups. Efferent lymphatics may join thoracic duct, internal jugular vein, subclavian vein or pass to deep cervical nodes. It consists of six to twelve nodes (30).
Internal Mammary (Parasternal) Nodes: It lies in the parasternal intercostal space. Predominantly, it drains the far medial and deep medial breast nodes in the first through the third intercostal spaces. It may be affected in metastatic breast cancer