Preoperative axillary lymph node staging by ultrasound-guided cytology using a four-level sonographic score. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Coninck, Caroline; Noël, Jean-Christophe; Boutemy, Rachel; Simon, Philippe
• Is Part Of: BMC medical imaging. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Axillary lymph nodes -- Breast cancer -- Ultrasound -- Cytology -- Metastasis; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; 616.075405
• DOI: 10.1186/s12880-016-0116-1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2342

Abstract

Abstract Background The staging of axillary lymph nodes is critical to the management and prognosis of breast cancer, the most frequent cancer in females. Neoadjuvant therapy and lymph node dissection are recommended when malignant cells invade the lymph nodes. Therefore the pre-operative examination of these lymph nodes is crucial to treatment. Methods In this study, we examined the effectiveness of cytology through ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (USG-FNA) and ultrasound (US) imaging using an established classification system in correctly identifying lymph node status compared to the final histological results after surgery. Results Cytology by USG-FNA and US classification were found to be promising methods of axillary lymph node staging. Conclusions US and CB offer minimally invasive techniques to pre-operatively examine these lymph nodes in patients with primary breast cancer.