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Lymph nodes (breast)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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There are two main sets of destination nodes for the lymphatic drainage of the breast:

  • the lateral breast tends to drain into the axillary nodes
  • the medial breast drains along lymphatics associated with the branches of the internal thoracic artery which pierce each intercostal space - the internal thoracic or mammary nodes

Normally, there is little or no lymph drainage to the contralateral breast. When lymph drainage is impaired by malignant cells, deposits of carcinoma may be found in the contralateral axilla or even in the groin.

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