Abstract: Objective To compare the incidence of limb dysfunction, sensory disturbance and lymphedema after different treatment methods in breast cancer patients, and evaluate the clinically relevant factors of limb dysfunction. Methods According to the different processing operation of axillary lymph nodes, 235 patients with breast cancer during 2005 to 2012 were divided into axillary lymph node dissection group in Mastoscopy (group A, n=120) and routine axillary lymph node dissection group (group B, n=115). The flexion, extension, abduction, adduction activity of the ipsilateral shoulder were compared with the contralateral, and the circumference of the up-and-down 15 cm of both upper limbs olecroanon were measured. The incidence of limb dysfunction of the patients was followed up in 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Results There was no significant difference in limb activity and sensory disturbance between 2 groups 6 months, 1 year and 2
years after operation (P>0.05), the incidence of limb lymphedema was higher in group B than in group A (P<0.05). Radiotherapy was related with limb lymphedema in both groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with the conventional axillary lymph node dissection, endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection can reduce the incidence of limb lymphedema after operation, but there was no significant difference in the limb activity and sensory disturbance between 2 groups. Postoperative radiotherapy is a risk to increase the occurrence of limb lymphedema.

Key words: breast cancer, dysfunction, axillary lymph node dissection, lymphedema, radiotherapy