THE SURGICAL AND ONCOLOGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AXILLARY ARCH DURING AXILLARY LYMPHADENECTOMY

An uncommon and often-overlooked anatomic variation of the latissimus dorsi muscle is the axillary arch. It is formed by an anomalous slip o f the muscle that arises from the body of the latissimus dorsi but the n inserts along with the pectoralis major muscle anterior to the axill ary vein and neurovascular bundle. If an axillary arch is encountered during axillary lymphadenectomy, the lymph nodes posterior and lateral to the arch should be excised. Experience with a number of cases is u sed to consider local therapeutic and staging factors.