Comparison of Axillary Lymph Node Size in Breast Cancer and Non-Cancer Female Cadavers

Background Axillary lymph node size is central to breast cancer staging and surgical decision-making. However, existing data are primarily derived from imaging or operative series, which are influenced by resolution limits, treatment effects, and selective nodal sampling. Direct anatomical comparisons of lymph node size in breast cancer and non-cancer populations remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether a history of breast cancer is associated with measurable differences in axillary lymph node area using systematic cadaveric dissection. Methods Twenty-nine female cadavers (8 with breast cancer, 21 controls) were dissected to collect axillary lymph nodes from six chains: central, humeral, infraclavicular, parasternal, pectoral, and subscapular. Lymph node area (mm²) was measured, and outliers (z ≥ 3) were excluded. Welch’s t-test was used to compare overall node size between groups. A two-factor ANOVA assessed the effects of group, location, and their interaction on node size. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results Lymph node area was significantly greater in the breast cancer group compared to controls (mean difference = 56.7 mm², p < 0.001). All node chains demonstrated significant group-level differences. The two-factor ANOVA revealed significant main effects of group (p < 0.001) and location (p = 0.014), while the group × location interaction was not significant (p = 0.103), suggesting generalized enlargement across chains. Conclusions Systematic anatomical assessment demonstrates generalized axillary lymph node enlargement in cadavers with a history of breast cancer. These findings provide direct structural data that complement imaging-based staging paradigms and establish baseline anatomical evidence for future investigations incorporating histologic correlation and larger, more diverse cohorts.