Real-time ultrasound, axillary mammography, and clinical examination in the detection of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients.

Abstract

The axillary node status is important in the prognosis of breast cancer. To evaluate the accuracy of various preoperative examination methods in detecting metastatic axillary lymph nodes, we compared the findings of clinical examination, axillary ultrasonography, and axillary mammography of 41 breast cancer patients who underwent axillary dissection and histological examination. The sensitivity was 72.7% for ultrasonography, 38.9% for axillary mammography, and 32.3% for clinical examination. Ultrasonography provides good information about the axillary nodal status. The specificity can be increased by fine-needle biopsy under ultrasound guidance.

Ultrasonographically-guided fine-needle aspiration of axillary lymph nodes: role in breast cancer management

“…Since the early 1980s, US examination has been proposed by many authors as one of the most successful procedures for evaluating the status of the axilla in breast cancer patients before surgery (Bruneton et al, 1986;Pamilo et al, 1989;Mustonen et al, 1990;Yang et al, 1996;Strauss et al, 1998;). Sonography can easily explore the different nodal chains and, when LN are found, specific signs may be searched to evaluate the presence of metastases (Feu et al, 1997;Rizzatto, 2001).…”

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonograph Guided Fine-needle Aspiration Cytologic in Staging of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients: a Meta-analysis

“…Also the accuracy, safety and cost varied greatly among them. Clinical examination alone is neither a sensitive nor reliable way to ascertain lymph node status, because metastatic lymph nodes are often impalpable and reactive lymph nodes may be mistaken for metastasis (Sacre , 1983;Pamilo et al, 1989;De Freitas et al, 1991). The accuracy of preoperative ultrasonographic diagnosis of nodal metastasis has improved with the development of high-frequency ultrasonography technology.…”

Accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients

“…Different methods are used to detect metastases in axillary lymph nodes preoperatively. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Although some studies have used ultrasonographic imaging techniques alone, [2][3][4][5][6]12,17,18 others have used fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology with or without ultrasound guidance to improve the detection of metastases. 1,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]15,19 FNA cytology of axillary lymph nodes is a simple, minimally invasive technique that can be utilized as a tool with which to select patients for sentinel versus full lymph node dissection procedures in We thank Dr. R. P. Michel for editorial assistance with the article.…”