title: Value of axillary ultrasonography and sonographically guided puncture of axillary nodes: a prospective study in 144 consecutive patients.
abstract: The value of axillary sonography in 144 consecutive patients was prospectively studied. Abnormal lymph nodes were demonstrated in 72 axillae, only half (36 of 72) of which were clinically detected. In comparison with intraoperative findings in 47 patients with breast carcinoma, the sensitivity of sonography in detecting malignant nodes was 92%, the specificity 95%, and the positive and negative predictive value 96% and 91%, respectively. In 42 patients a sonographically guided node puncture was performed. Evidence of malignancy was found in 38 (90.5%). In 14 (33%) of them, cyto-histology pointed to a clinically undetected primary malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sonography, Heilig Hartziekenhuis, Roeselare, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verbanck
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vandewiele
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Winter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tytgat
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Aelst
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tanghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography