TITLE:
Accuracy of Ultrasound Examination of Loco-Regional Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer Follow-Up and Its Role in the Axillary Surgical Management
AUTHORS:
Jacopo Nori, Icro Meattini, Dalmar Abdulcadir, Elisabetta Giannotti, Diego De Benedetto, Luis Sanchez, Lorenzo Orzalesi, Simonetta Bianchi, Leonardo Capaccioli, Lorenzo Livi
KEYWORDS:
Ultrasound; Loco-Regional Lymph Nodes; Breast Cancer Follow-Up; Sentinel Node Dissection; Axillary Surgery
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Breast Cancer Research,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
7,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objective: Major international guidelines have not standardized
the sequence of diagnostic examinations during the follow-up of a patient with
a diagnosed breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the accuracy
of sonography in the diagnosis of loco-regional lymphatic recurrences in
comparison to the core needle biopsy results. Materials and Methods: Among 6455 patients who were followed up with clinical examination, mammography and
ultrasound between January 2004 and November 2011, 125 (1.93%) patients had to
be investigated with a core needle biopsy of a sonographically suspicious
loco-regional lymph node. Results: Among the whole series, a total of 142 ultrasound-guided core needle
biopsies were performed. Follow-up for the primary tumor lasted for a median
time of 6.1 years (range 1 - 27 years). Ultrasound of suspicious
loco-regional lymph nodes showed a sensitivity of 89.5%, a specificity of 87.1%
and a positive predictive value of 89.5%. Conclusions: In our experience, ultrasound of suspicious loco-regional lymph
nodes showed good accuracy and it should be a part of the standard examinations performed during follow-up for
breast cancer.