PMC

(2) Another pattern was a lymphatic a lymphatic vessel running directly from the lateral edge of the parenchyma and through the posterior surface of the breast into the lower axilla, and then to the lymph node located at the midaxilla. Several lymphatic drainage pathways from the areolar area were observed. Several streams from the areola joined together before they drained to the axilla.

Two patterns of lympathic drainage pathways from the breast to the axillary basin were found. (1) One pattern was a subcutaneous lymphatic vessel from the subareolar area running through the anterior surface of the breast into the lymph node in the midaxilla near the intercostals brachial nerve. Patterns of subcutaneous lymphatic drainage pathway from the areola into the axilla: From one to two streams was drained.

It is possible to see the fluorescent lymph vessels that run from the body surface to the axilla. Figure 3-a: A skin incision is made at the end of fluorescence emission that extends to the axilla, in order to observe the fluorescent lymph vessels embedded in the subcutaneous tissue. The fluorescent lymph nodes at the end of the lymph vessels are identified. Figure 3-b: After skin incision, the subcutaneous lymphatics were more clearly visible by fluorescence. Figure 3-c: The lymphatic channels and nodes that received ICG appeared as shining fluorescent streams and spots in the fluorescence image. The lymph node was dissected along with its surrounding fatty tissue.