Correlation of Ultrasound Findings and Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for the Diagnosis of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Breast Carcinoma

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Kusum Kapila ◽  
Preetha Alath ◽  
Govind H. Hebbar ◽  
Mohammed Jaragh ◽  
Sara S. George ◽  
...  

Objective: Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (USG-FNAC) is used for the detection of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis in patients with breast carcinoma (BC). US findings have a good diagnostic accuracy with high sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this study is to correlate the detection of ALN metastases on US with FNAC in BC patients. Study Design: In 75 BC patients, over a period of 9 months (January to September 2017), the size, cortical thickness (CT), presence or absence of hilar fat, and length/width ratio of ALN on US were reviewed and correlated with FNAC findings. Results: The age range was 29–78 (mean 52) years. There were 38 patients with a single ALN and 37 with multiple ALNs. ALNs with a maximum length of > 2.5 cm were malignant in 100% of cases while those ≥1.5 cm were malignant in 80.4%. ALNs with a CT of > 3 mm had metastasis in 78.1% cases. ALNs with absent hilar fat showed tumour in 87.5% cases. A length/width ratio of < 2 showed a metastatic tumour in 66.7% of aspirates. Conclusion: An association was seen between metastatic carcinoma on FNAC and axillary US features of a maximum length of ≥1.5 cm, the absence of hilar fat, and a CT of > 3 mm (p < 0.05).

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Panzeri Carlotti Buzatto ◽  
Francisco José Cândido dos Reis ◽  
Jurandyr Moreira de Andrade ◽  
Tamara Cristina Gomes Ferraz Rodrigues ◽  
Jéssica Maria Camargo Borba ◽  
...  

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.


2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Tanaka ◽  
T. Umekawa ◽  
K. Nagao ◽  
A. Ishihara ◽  
N. Toyoda

An 87-year-old was referred for gynecologic evaluation of a lesion involving the left labia majus noted 3 years earlier. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed clusters with an acinous structure or glandular formation. The tumor appeared as cell clusters with linear arrangements. Histologic examination showed the same morphologic findings as scirrhus type of primary breast carcinoma. Examinations of the breasts and axillary lymph nodes were normal. This disease was diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma arising in mammary-like glands of the vulva. Bone scan showed multiple foci in the sternum, costa, and vertebrae, consistent with metastatic disease. We administered five courses of weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy, which achieved a partial response. There were no severe adverse effects. In our case, the fine-needle aspiration cytology was a rapid and minimally invasive method of diagnosis, and the findings were extremely similar to those of the scirrhus type of primary breast carcinoma. Rapid and accurate diagnosis made with this technique might contribute to a good prognosis in the early-staged cases. Weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy may be one of the safe and effective treatments for this disease with distant metastases, even in extremely aged patients (over 80 years).


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