title: T1-T2 breast cancer with nodal metastasis: characteristics of pN2 or higher disease compared to pN1 disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of T1-T2 breast cancer with nodal metastasis and compare these features of pN2 or higher disease against those of pN1 disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mammographic, ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging MRI features of 163 patients with T1-T2 cancer and nodal metastasis were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in consensus and compared between pN1 and pN2, or higher disease. Their clinical features were also compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T1-T2 cancer with pN2 or higher disease is more likely to present with pleomorphic or linear-branching calcifications (p=0.003) on mammography and have non-parallel orientation on ultrasonography (p=0.008). Invasive tumor size larger than 2 cm (p=0.032), high histological grade (p=0.002) and lymphovascular invasion (p=0.009) were significantly associated with pN2 or higher disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being familiar with the imaging characteristics of T1-T2 cancer with nodal metastasis may be helpful in preoperatively evaluating the extent of nodal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Konkuk University Medical Center, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-914, Korea. metalliablue@naver.com.
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Young Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kyoung Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Wan Seop
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000556:secondary*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000556:secondary*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
keywords: Breast neoplasms; lymph nodes; magnetic resonance imaging; mammography; ultrasonography