Diagnostic and Surgical Outcomes of Isolated Axillary Surgery for Non-Breast Pathologies: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Giriş: Bu çalışma, meme dışı patolojilerde uygulanan izole aksiller cerrahinin tanısal başarısını ve cerrahi morbiditesini değerlendirmeyi, özellikle eksizyonel biyopsi ile aksiller diseksiyonun güvenlik profillerini karşılaştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Yöntemler: 2018–2024 yılları arasında bir ikinci basamak sağlık merkezinde izole aksiller cerrahi uygulanan hastalar retrospektif olarak incelendi. Demografik veriler, cerrahi parametreler ve patoloji sonuçları analiz edildi. Karşılaştırmalı istatistiksel analizlerde Fisher’ın kesin testi ve Mann–Whitney U testi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Toplam 42 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi (ortalama yaş: 58.1±14.4 yıl). En sık uygulanan prosedür eksizyonel biyopsi idi (%71.4), bunu aksiller diseksiyon takip etti (%23.8). Malignite saptanan hastalar, benign patolojili hastalardan belirgin şekilde daha yaşlıydı (65.3 vs. 54.9 yıl; p=0.026). Genel morbidite oranı %16.7 olup cerrahi yaklaşıma göre belirgin farklılık gösterdi: aksiller diseksiyon grubunda morbidite %70 iken, eksizyonel biyopsi grubunda %0 olarak bulundu (p<0.001). Yüksek ASA skoru (p=0.015) ve dren kullanımı (p=0.005) komplikasyonlarla ilişkiliydi. En sık tanı reaktif lenfadenopati idi (%40.4). Sonuç: Meme dışı patolojilerde izole aksiller cerrahi, çoğunlukla cerrahi tercihten ziyade klinik gereklilikle yönlendirilen önemli bir tanısal ve terapötik yöntemdir. Morbidite potansiyeli olsa da, multidisipliner yaklaşımla yönetildiğinde güvenli ve etkili bir prosedürdür.

Keywords

• Lenfadenopati
• lenf nodu eksizyonu
• aksiller bölge
• meme dışı malignite
• granülomatöz inflamasyon
• cerrahi tanı

Diagnostic and Surgical Outcomes of Isolated Axillary Surgery for Non-Breast Pathologies: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield and surgical morbidity of isolated axillary surgery in non-breast pathologies, specifically comparing the safety profiles of excisional biopsy and axillary dissection. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent isolated axillary surgery at a secondary-level center between 2018 and 2024. Data on demographics, surgical parameters, and pathology were analyzed. Comparative statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: A total of 42 patients were included (mean age: 58.1±14.4 years). Excisional biopsy was the most common procedure (71.4%), followed by axillary dissection (23.8%). Patients with malignancy were significantly older than those with benign pathologies (65.3 vs. 54.9 years; p=0.026). While the overall morbidity was 16.7%, a significant disparity was observed based on the surgical approach: morbidity was 70% in the axillary dissection group compared to 0% in the excisional biopsy group (p<0.001). High ASA scores (p=0.015) and drain usage (p=0.005) were also associated with complications. Reactive lymphadenopathy (40.4%) was the most frequent diagnosis. Conclusion: Isolated axillary surgery in non-breast pathologies is a critical diagnostic and therapeutic modality often guided by medical necessity rather than surgical preference. Despite its potential for increased morbidity, this procedure demonstrates a safe and effective profile when managed through a multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords

• Lymphadenopathy
• lymph node excision
• axillary region
• non-breast malignancy
• granulomatous inflammation
• surgical diagnosis

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