Diagnostic value of ultrasound, doppler ultrasound and fine needle biopsy results of axillary lymph node in the staging of breast cancer

PurposeThe aim of our study is to retrospectively evaluate gray-scale ultrasonography (US), color Doppler US and US guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) findings of axillary lymph nodes in preoperative staging of breast cancer across a range of primary tumor size and statistically analyze them using histological findings as a reference standard.Material and methodWe retrospectively reviewed 28 patients with new breast cancer who underwent preoperative FNAB from 2007 January to 2008 August. Five patients with malign FNAB results underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The gray-scale US and color Doppler US features of the lymph nodes, FNAB results and the final lymph node pathology of the axillary lymph nodes were evaluated in 23 patients who had an operation.ResultsUS and color Doppler US evaluation of the axillary lymph nodes had a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 50%. Sensitivity of US guided FNAB was 63 %, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value was 100%, negative predictive value was 36%. Sensitivity of US guided FNAB increased with primary tumor size.ConclusionIn conclusion, preoperative axillary lymph node evaluation with US, color Doppler US and US guided FNAB in the patients with breast cancer with no distant metastasis guide breast cancer staging and treatment planning.