Breast

Source region and uptake · 75% axilla Medial to parasternal

About three-quarters of breast lymph passes laterally to the axillary nodes; lymph from the medial quadrants crosses to the parasternal (internal mammary) chain and so bypasses the axilla altogether.

Detail

To the axilla
About 75%
Medial quadrants
Parasternal (internal mammary) nodes
Nipple and areola
Subareolar plexus of Sappey
Other routes
Opposite breast and subdiaphragmatic (rectus sheath) lymphatics
Staging tool
Sentinel node biopsy with blue dye plus technetium-99m colloid

When it goes wrong

Medial quadrant carcinoma draining to parasternal nodes

Nodal spread with a clinically and pathologically negative axilla

Tumour obstructing dermal lymphatics

Peau d'orange and inflammatory breast carcinoma

Practise this structure

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