title: Preoperative axillary lymph node staging by ultrasound-guided cytology using a four-level sonographic score.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The staging of axillary lymph nodes is critical to the management and prognosis of breast cancer, the most frequent cancer in females. Neoadjuvant therapy and lymph node dissection are recommended when malignant cells invade the lymph nodes. Therefore the pre-operative examination of these lymph nodes is crucial to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we examined the effectiveness of cytology through ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (USG-FNA) and ultrasound (US) imaging using an established classification system in correctly identifying lymph node status compared to the final histological results after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytology by USG-FNA and US classification were found to be promising methods of axillary lymph node staging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US and CB offer minimally invasive techniques to pre-operatively examine these lymph nodes in patients with primary breast cancer.
authors: Erasme Hospital, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Anderlecht, Belgium. caroline.de.coninck@ulb.ac.be.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: De Coninck
authors: Erasme Hospital, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Anderlecht, Belgium. jean.christophe.noel@erasme.ulb.ac.be.
authors: Jean-Christophe
authors: JC
authors: Noël
authors: Erasme Hospital, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Anderlecht, Belgium. rachel.boutemy@skynet.be.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Boutemy
authors: Erasme Hospital, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Anderlecht, Belgium. philippe.simon@erasme.ulb.ac.be.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Simon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D057234:Preoperative Period; D014463:Ultrasonography