The axillary dissection is part of the breast cancer surgical protocol. We have cytologically analyzed the axillary lavage fluid obtained during 67 modified radical mastectomy. Our results showed good correlation between the node status, histological grading and the cytological diagnosis of the axillary lavage fluid. As some other dissemination assessment techniques showed important prognostic value, the cytologic analysis of the axillary lavage fluid also seems to be a prognostic parameter.