Role of axillary ultrasound examination in the selection of breast cancer patients for sentinel node biopsy

Nori, Jacopo; Vanzi, Ermanno; Bazzocchi, Massimo; Bufalini, Filippo Nori; Distante, Vito; Branconi, Francesco; Susini, Tommaso

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.02.021

« Previous Next »The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 193, Issue 1 , Pages 16-20, January 2007

Role of axillary ultrasound examination in the selection of breast cancer patients for sentinel node biopsy

Jacopo Nori, M.D.
- Diagnostic Senology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
Ermanno Vanzi, M.D.
- Diagnostic Senology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
Massimo Bazzocchi, M.D.
- Department of Radiology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
Filippo Nori Bufalini, M.D.
- Diagnostic Senology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
Vito Distante, M.D.
- Department of General Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Francesco Branconi, M.D.
- Department of Gynecology, Perinatology, and Human Reproductive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85 - 50134, Firenze, Italy
Tommaso Susini, M.D., Ph.D.
- Department of Gynecology, Perinatology, and Human Reproductive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85 - 50134, Firenze, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39.055.411879; fax: +39.055.434330.

Received 7 December 2005; received in revised form 20 February 2006 published online 28 May 2006.

Abstract

Background

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a time-consuming procedure that can be avoided in presence of axillary metastases. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of ultrasound scan (US) in the prediction of axillary nodes status in patients scheduled for SNB.

Methods

Axillary US was performed and when feasible, a core biopsy of suspicious nodes was taken. The nodal status as assessed by US and/or core biopsy was compared with final histology.

Results

Of the 132 patients enrolled, 31 (23.5%) had suspicious axillary nodes according to US; 19 (61.3%) were true positive, whereas 12 cases (38.7%) were not. In 14 of 31 suspicious cases an US-guided core-biopsy was taken, which in 11 of 14 cases (78.5%) confirmed the neoplastic involvement. Overall, core biopsy of the nodes correctly predicted the final histology in 13 of 14 cases (92.8%).