AIM OF THE STUDY: The lymph node sentinel method is today used for staging the axillary lymph node stations. Ultrasonography is widely available and inexpensive method to study axillary status. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients were studied consecutively using axillary ultrasonography and ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of the lymph node. We used ATL Ultramark 9 with 5-7.5 MHz multiple frequency linear probe or Aloka SSDD-1400 with 7.5 MHz linear probe. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients were examined; six were excluded because of definitive histological diagnosis of non-infiltrating carcinoma. 106 had monofocal carcinomas, 2 had bifocal carcinoma in 104/108 ultrasonography was carried out successfully. The axillary cytological examination was positive in 18 cases (17.3%) who were subjected to axillary examination. 86 patients were subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy: positive 13 cases (6 micrometastases). 31 cases/104 (29.8%) showed positive axilla. Sensitivity of ultrasonography was 58%, 100%specificity. Predictive positive value 100%, Negative value 84.9% for an accuracy of 87.5%. DISCUSSION: Ultrasonography is useful in all cases eligible to sentinel lymph node examination; the minimum cost of the procedure and of the human resources is amply rewarded by the direct indication for surgical axillary dissection in case of a positive result (17.3% in our experience).
AIM OF THE STUDY: The lymph node sentinel method is today used for staging the axillary lymph node stations. Ultrasonography is widely available and inexpensive method to study axillary status. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients were studied consecutively using axillary ultrasonography and ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of the lymph node. We used ATL Ultramark 9 with 5-7.5 MHz multiple frequency linear probe or Aloka SSDD-1400 with 7.5 MHz linear probe. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients were examined; six were excluded because of definitive histological diagnosis of non-infiltrating carcinoma. 106 had monofocal carcinomas, 2 had bifocal carcinoma in 104/108 ultrasonography was carried out successfully. The axillary cytological examination was positive in 18 cases (17.3%) who were subjected to axillary examination. 86 patients were subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy: positive 13 cases (6 micrometastases). 31 cases/104 (29.8%) showed positive axilla. Sensitivity of ultrasonography was 58%, 100%specificity. Predictive positive value 100%, Negative value 84.9% for an accuracy of 87.5%. DISCUSSION: Ultrasonography is useful in all cases eligible to sentinel lymph node examination; the minimum cost of the procedure and of the human resources is amply rewarded by the direct indication for surgical axillary dissection in case of a positive result (17.3% in our experience).
Authors: Kubilay Ertan; Christina Linsler; Alexander di Liberto; Mei Fang Ong; Erich Solomayer; Jan Endrikat Journal: Breast Cancer (Auckl) Date: 2013-03-06