title: Detection of axillary metastases in breast cancer patients using ultrasound and colour Doppler combined with fine needle aspiration cytology.
abstract: The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography and colour Doppler combined with fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology for the detection of non-palpable axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients. Forty patients with operable breast cancer (T1/T2), invasive carcinoma, not submitted to neo-adjuvant therapy, underwent axillary ultrasonography and colour Doppler preoperatively. FNA cytology was performed on axillary lymph nodes presenting ultrasonographic and/or Doppler suspicious features. A total of 542 lymph nodes were surgically removed from the 40 patients; 19 were metastatic lymph nodes. Ultrasound-guided FNA detected metastases in six out of 11 histologically node-positive patients. Sensitivity and specificity in this preliminary study was 55% and 100%, respectively. These are the preliminary results of a prospective study that has the purpose of reducing the sentinel node procedures in breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillae, but positive FNA cytology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Coimbra University Hospital, Portugal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color