Isabela Panzeri Carlotti Buzatto
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Francisco José Cândido dos Reis
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Jurandyr Moreira de Andrade
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Tamara Cristina Gomes Ferraz Rodrigues
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Jéssica Maria Camargo Borba
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...
Abstract
Background
Axillary lymph node involvement is one important prognostic factor in breast cancer, but the way to access this information has been modified over the years. This study evaluated if axillary ultrasound (US) coupled with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) can accurately predict clinically relevant node metastasis in patients with breast cancer, and thus assist clinical decisions
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection of 241 individuals (239 women and 2 men) with unilateral operable breast cancer who were submitted to preoperative axillary assessment by physical exam, US and FNAC if suspicious nodes by imaging. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the methods. We compared the patient's characteristics using chi-square test, parametrics and non-parametrics statistics according to the variable.
Results
The most sensible method was US (0.59; 95% CI, 0.50–0.69), and the most specific was US coupled with FNAC (0.97; 95% CI, 0.92–0.99). Only 2.7% of the patients with normal axillary US had more than 2 metastatic nodes in the axillary lymph node dissection, against 50% of the patients with suspicious lymph nodes in the US and positive FNAC.
Conclusions
Axillary US coupled with FNAC can sort patients who have a few metastatic nodes at most from those with heavy axillary burden and could be one more tool to initially evaluate patients and define treatment strategies.
Axillary ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy in the preoperative diagnosis of axillary metastases in early‑stage breast cancer
