ALND

Medical abbreviation · Surgical

ALND
Stands forAxillary lymph node dissection
CategoriesMedical

ALND stands for Axillary lymph node dissection, a surgical abbreviation.

Removes the lymph nodes from the armpit, usually levels I and II, in breast cancer and melanoma when nodes contain substantial cancer. It provides staging information and regional control but carries a much higher risk of arm lymphedema than sentinel node biopsy.

Example: ALND for a clinically positive axilla: 4 of 16 nodes positive.

Usage notes

Lymphedema occurs in roughly one in five patients after ALND in many series. Some surgeons add immediate lymphatic reconstruction at the time of dissection to reduce this risk. Use of ALND has declined as trials support less extensive axillary surgery.

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  • DOS – Day of surgery
  • EBL – Estimated blood loss
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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.