Purpose: Our aim is to define the sonographic criteria for assessing involved axillary nodes and to evaluate the accuracy of axillary ultrasound in the staging workup of individuals with breast cancer.
Materials and methods: Thirty-five patients with breast cancer were prospectively evaluated with preoperative ultrasonography (US) to determine the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis. We determined whether there was axillary lymph node metastasis after axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy. If metastasis was found, the number of metastatic lymph nodes was recorded and compared with preoperative axillary US findings using histopathological evaluation as a reference.
Results: Metastatic lymph node detection in sonographic evaluation was associated with echogenic hilus obliteration, complete hypoechoic or anechoic appearance of lymph nodes, and asymmetric/nodal or diffuse cortical thickening greater than 3.8 mm. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of US were calculated as (20/22) 91 percent, (10/13) 77 percent, (20/23) 87 percent, and (10/12) 83 percent, respectively.
Conclusion: Ultrasonography examination is a valuable method for evaluating the axilla in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and provides valuable information for planning proper breast cancer management.
Keywords: Axillary lymph node; Axillary ultrasonography; Breast cancer; Metastasis.