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Role of ultrasound in the preoperative staging of patients with breast cancer

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of axillary ultrasound (US) and US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to detect axillary LN metastases. Between January 2001 and September 2003, axillary US was performed in 165 patients with cytologically or histologically proven breast cancer and clinically non-palpable axillary LNs. In patients with US suspicious LNs, US-guided FNAB was performed and patients with cytologically proven malignant LNs proceeded directly to the ALND. In 49/90 patients with US suspicious LNs, US-guided FNAB was performed. It was positive in 33/49 patients. Definitive histology report revealed LN metastases in 65/165 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the US-FNAB, were 84, 91, 97 and 62%. Axillary US in a combination with US-FNAB is a valuable method in preoperative staging of patients with breast cancer. Almost 50% of patients with LN metastases can be spared the second operation. However, it is very much operator-dependent and equipment-dependent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Institute of Oncology, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Maja Podkrajsek, Maja Marolt Music & Maksimiljan Kadivec

  2. Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Janez Zgajnar, Nikola Besic & Marko Hocevar

  3. Department of Cytopathology, Institute of Oncology, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Ana Pogacnik

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  1. Maja Podkrajsek
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  2. Maja Marolt Music
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  3. Maksimiljan Kadivec
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  4. Janez Zgajnar
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  5. Nikola Besic
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  6. Ana Pogacnik
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  7. Marko Hocevar
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Correspondence to Marko Hocevar.

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Podkrajsek, M., Music, M.M., Kadivec, M. et al. Role of ultrasound in the preoperative staging of patients with breast cancer. Eur Radiol 15, 1044–1050 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2545-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2545-4

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