Objective To determine the distribution profile of apocrine sweat glands in axillary region of patients with axillary osmidrosis,and to compare their distribution at different sites.Methods Fifteen patients with axillary osmidrosis were enrolled in this study from September to December 2010.All the patients underwent surgical removal of apocrine sweat glands under direct vision.Full-thickness skin tissue measuring 2 mm in width was excised down to the axillary superficial fascia at the incisional surgical sites from five patients.Five points,which were at the center of axillary region (point 1),1 cm away from the center of axillary region (point 2),1 cm inside the edge of axillary hair-bearing area (point 3),the edge of axillary hair-bearing area (point 4),and 1 cm outside the edge of axillary hair-bearing area (point 5),were marked,and dark red,rough granular subcutaneous tissue was obtained at these points in 10 patients with axillary osmidrosis.Results The secretory portion of apocrine sweat glands was mainly distributed in the reticular dennis and superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue,but no apocrine sweat glands were obs erred in the epidermis,dermal papilla or axillary superficial fascia.The distribution profile of apocrine sweat glands was consistent with that of axillary hairs.There were numerous apocrine sweat glands in the center of axillary region,but only a small number at the edge of axillary hair-bearing area,and no apocrine sweat gland was observed at 1 cm outside the edge.The percentage of apocrine sweat gland area at point 1-5 was 74.1％,46.6％,25.3％,2.1％,and 0 respectively,with significant differences between point 1 and 2 (t--29.78,P＜ 0.01),point 2 and 3 (t--9.76,P＜ 0.01),point 3 and 4 (t =20.83,P＜ 0.01),but not between point 4 and 5 (t =1.96,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions During the surgical treatment of axillary osmidrosis,the removal of apocrine sweat glands should be extended to the reticular dennis and superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue in depth and the edge of axillary hair-bearing area in width,and there is no need to blindly increase the extent of removal.