1 Jul 2009Article
Use of axillary ultrasonography in breast cancer: a useful tool to reduce sentinel node procedures
Mario Sianesi 1Guido Ceci 2Andrea Ghirarduzzi 1Paolo Rio 1Anna Guazzi 2Beatrice Pisanelli 2Eugenia Martella 3Andrea Ardizzoni 2Beatrice Blasio 2Maria Arcuri 1
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of Surgical Science, General Surgery and Organ transplantation, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
2 Unit of Oncology , University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
3 Unit of Pathology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2009, 80(4), 315-318;
Published: 1 Jul 2009
Copyright © 2009 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY: The lymphnode sentinel method is today used for staging the axillary lymphnode stations. Ultrasonography is widely available and inexpensive method to study axillary status. METHODS:Onehundred forteen patients were studied consecutively using axillary ultrasonography and ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of the lymphnode. We used ATL Ultramark 9 with 5-7,5 MHz multiple frequency linear probe or Aloka SSDD-1400 with 7,5 MHz linear probe. RESULTUS: Onehundred forteen patients were examined; six were excluded because of definitive histological diagnosis of non-infiltranting carcinoma. 106 had monofocal carcinomas, 2 had bifocal carcinoma. in 104/108 ultrasonography was carried out successfully. The axillary cytological examination was positive in 18 cases (17.3%) who were subjected to axillary examination. 86 patients were subjected to sentinel lymphnode biopsy :positive 13 cases (6 micrometastases). 31 cases/104(29.8%) showed positive axilla. Sensitivity of ultrasonography was 58%, 100%specificity.Predictive positive value 100%, Negative value 84.9% for an accuracy of 87.5%. DISCUSSION: Ultrasonography is useful in all cases eligible to sentinel lymphnode examination ; the minimum cost of the procedure and of the human resources is amply rewarded by the direct indication for surgical axillary dissection in case of a positive result (17.3 % in our experience).
Keywords
- Axillary ecography
- Axillary dissection
- Breast cancer
- Fine needle aspiration
- Sentinel lymphnode