Axillary Reverse Mapping: ARM

Any surgical intervention in the axilla may potentially result in lymphoedema of the upper extremity. The concordance of the sentinel nodes draining the upper extremity and sentinel nodes draining the breast is the probable cause of lymphoedema after SLN biopsy in breast cancer. Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) is a feasible technique that may reduce lymphoedema rates in breast cancer patients while preserving the oncological safety of the procedure. Preservation of axillary reverse mapping nodes results in a low incidence of lymphoedema during sentinel node biopsy and axillary node dissection. The potential benefit of the ARM technique needs to be evaluated in a controlled randomized trial to confirm the findings of the reported institutional protocols.