Application of liposuction in traditional axillary dissections in breast cancer        LIN  Zong-wei*，LAI Ping-mei, XIE You-zhi，et al. *Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery，Shenzhen Sixth Hospital, Shenzhen 518052,  China
Corresponding author: LUO Qiong，E-mail: anncxa@hotmail.com
Abstract    Objective    To explore the feasibility and safety of liposuction in traditional axillary dissections in breast cancer. Methods    The clinical data of 64 patients with breast cancer admitted between June 2006 and May 2009 in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Shenzhen Sixth Hospital were analyzed comparatively. The patients were divided into  traditional axillary dissections group (n=31) and liposuction group (n=33) randomly. It compared and analyzed intraoperative hemorrhage, the number of lymph nodes dissected and intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) protection. Results    Operative time in liposuction group was longer than traditional axillary dissections group (P<0.05) significantly. There was no significant difference between two groups in intraoperative hemorrhage (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in the total number of lymph nodes dissected and the number of positive lymph nodes dissected (P>0.05). No local recurrence and distant metastases were found in two groups during a half to 2-year follow-up period. Conclusion    Liposuction can improve the success rate of intercostobrachial nerve protection (P<0.05) and the extent of lymh node dissections may reach the standard of traditional axillary dissections, which is safe and feasible.