Evaluation of non-palpable axillary lymph nodes metastasis with ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration cytology in carcinoma breast and comparing with histopathological report

Abstract

Background: Breast malignancies are the second most common cause of cancer related mortality among women. As the size of the primary breast cancer increases, some cancer cells are shed into cellular spaces and transported via the lymphatic network of the breast to the regional lymph nodes, especially the axillary lymph nodes. Objective of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of axillary ultrasound (US) guided fine-needle-aspiration cytology (FNAC) in patients with breast carcinoma, in comparison with the final histological examination (sentinel node biopsy and/or axillary dissection). Methods: This prospective study will be conducted on 40 consecutive patients with biopsy proven breast cancer with clinically negative axilla, who had attending the OPD or IPD in our department of surgery, SGRD hospital Amritsar. All of these patients are planned to undergo surgery (breast conservation or modified radical mastectomy with axillary clearance).Results: Patients detected with LN metastasis on FNAC can directly undergo axillary dissection without the need of any other diagnostic technique like SLNB in non-palpable axillary lymph nodes.Conclusions: Thus, we can conclude that ultrasonography (USG) guided FNAC due to its moderate sensitivity, high specificity and PPV in relation to histopathological examination (HPE) is a good diagnostic technique for diagnosing patients with axillary lymph node metastasis in case of clinically non palpable axillary lymph nodes in carcinoma breast patients.