title: [Preoperative axilla sonography in breast tumor suspected of malignancy--a diagnostic advantage?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of preoperative axillary sonography possibly malignant for breast tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed preoperative axillary sonography on 89 patients with suspicious breast tumours. In 78 cases, among which there were 74 invasive carcinomas, the surgery that followed included an axillary lymph node dissection and a comparison with the histology was possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sonographic detection of axillary lymph node metastases has a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 91.7% in relation to all tumour stages and a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 89.6% in relation to T1 tumours. In our analysis, therefore, it is vastly superior to a clinical examination of the axilla.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonography is an accurate imaging method for the diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastases. Broadening this analysis to include more patients will validate this conclusion. The results of our preliminary study suggest that this diagnostic method could help reduce unnecessary radical surgery in the treatment of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Gynäkologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Methfessel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buchmann
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
vernacular_title: Präoperative Axillasonographie beim malignitätsverdächtigen Mammatumor--ein diagnostischer Gewinn?