title: [Axillary ultrasound for a breast cancer patient and changing international treatment practices].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We explored the effects of novel treatment practices on radiological examinations of the axilla in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Axillary ultrasound was performed for 178 new breast cancer patients preoperatively. A core biopsy was taken from the suspected lymph nodes, and the finding was compared with the postoperative results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasound in combination with the core biopsy detects 61.6% of the macrometastases. Ultrasound detected almost all axilla having a high tumor burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative axillary ultrasound and core biopsy for suspected lymph nodes before the operation is still recommended for all breast cancer patients. Frozen section examination of the sentinel lymph node can be omitted if preoperatively the primary tumour is unifocal, less than 15mm and the axillary ultrasound finding negative.
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rautiainen
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutela
authors.forename: Sarianna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joukainen
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auvinen
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kärjä
authors.forename: Marjut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leidenius
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanninen
authors.forename: Mazen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sudah
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography