Aim: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of T1-T2 breast cancer with nodal metastasis and compare these features of pN2 or higher disease against those of pN1 disease.
Patients and methods: The mammographic, ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging MRI features of 163 patients with T1-T2 cancer and nodal metastasis were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in consensus and compared between pN1 and pN2, or higher disease. Their clinical features were also compared.
Results: T1-T2 cancer with pN2 or higher disease is more likely to present with pleomorphic or linear-branching calcifications (p=0.003) on mammography and have non-parallel orientation on ultrasonography (p=0.008). Invasive tumor size larger than 2 cm (p=0.032), high histological grade (p=0.002) and lymphovascular invasion (p=0.009) were significantly associated with pN2 or higher disease.
Conclusion: Being familiar with the imaging characteristics of T1-T2 cancer with nodal metastasis may be helpful in preoperatively evaluating the extent of nodal disease.
Keywords: Breast neoplasms; lymph nodes; magnetic resonance imaging; mammography; ultrasonography.