Table 4 Short-term (< 30 days) and long-term (≥ 30 days) complication rates in patients receiving sentinel lymph node biopsy

Short-term complications

 Any complication

46 (14.8%)

18 (15.4%)

 Surgical revision ^a

8 (2.6%)

1 (0.9%)

 Infection ^a

10 (3.2%)

3 (2.6%)

 Axillary infection

2 (0.6%)

0 (0.0%)

 Clinically relevant seroma ^a

14 (4.5%)

5 (4.3%)

 Clinically relevant axillary seroma

4 (1.3%)

3 (2.6%)

Long-term complications

 Any complication

98 (31.5%)

30 (25.6%)

 Clinically relevant seroma ^a

11 (3.5%)

5 (4.3%)

 Clinically relevant axillary seroma

4 (1.3%)

3 (2.6%)

 Axillary web syndrome

6 (1.9%)

0 (0.0%)

 Lymphedema

10 (3.2%)

3 (2.6%)

 Chronic pain ^a

69 (22.2%)

17 (14.5%)

 Chronic axillary pain

26 (8.4%)

8 (6.8%)

 Chronic arm pain

14 (4.5%)

1 (0.9%)

 Impairment of shoulder mobility

20 (6.4%)

5 (4.3%)