A systematic review of axillary nodal irradiation for the management of the axilla in patients with early-stage breast cancer

•Node positive patients have modest benefits from regional radiation.•Some node negative patient subsets may also benefit modestly from regional radiation.•Regional nodal irradiation may be equivalent to axillary node dissection with less lymphedema.•The optimal locoregional approach in the neoadjuvant setting is the subject of ongoing clinical trials.