Concordance between Axillary Ultrasound and Sentinel Biopsy in Clinically Node-Negative Early Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of axillary ultrasound in detecting axillary nodal metastasis in clinically and
radiologically uninvolved axillary nodes in early carcinoma breast by comparing with sentinel node biopsy histopathology on frozen section.

Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Breast Clinic, CMH, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Aug 2020 to May 2021.

Methodology: Patients included in the study presented with breast cancer lesions with clinically impalpable axillary lymph
nodes aged 18-75. Patients with clinically impalpable nodes underwent an ultrasound of the axilla; if suspicious nodes were
found, the patient had subsequent axillary node dissection. Sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) was performed on axillary
ultrasound in all patients with no suspicious or benign-looking nodes. Histopathological reporting was taken as standard.
Lymph nodal status on axillary ultrasound, SLN biopsy and axillary lymph node clearance were documented and analyzed.

Results: Twenty-nine patients were included who had benign-looking lymph nodes on axillary ultrasound and underwent
sentinel lymph node biopsy. The mean age of the patients was 54.03 ± 7.94. Out of 29 patients, 24(82.8%) patients had negative Sentinel lymph node biopsy, and 5(17.2%) had positive Sentinel lymph node biopsy, who then underwent axillary lymph
node dissection.

Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the gold standard to determine axillary lymph nodes involved in early carcinoma
breast, which seem benign on pre-operative axillary ultrasound.