Ultrasound assessment of axillary lymph nodes in the management of suspected breast cancer

The status of the axillary lymph nodes is one of the most important prognosticfactors in women with early breast cancer.Ultrasonography of the axilla is crucial in the preoperative evaluation of earlybreast cancer and should be carried out in all patients when malignancy issuspected. If a lymph node showing abnormal morphology is found onultrasound, needle sampling should be carried out under ultrasound guidance.Lymph node sampling may be performed using FNAC or needle core biopsy.Published studies have shown no significant difference in sensitivity orspecificity when comparing FNAC or needle core biopsy in the assessment ofabnormal axillary lymph nodes.For women with clinically suspicious lymph node preoperative axillaryultrasound with FNA or core biopsy provides a means to identify patients whohave positive nodes and thus may need axillary lymph node dissection ratherthan a SLNB.In this presentation, a review of the importance and indications for axillaryultrasound in breast cancer and an overview of technical aspects will beprovided.