Abstract
AIM: To investigate whether the histopathological characteristics of primary breast cancer tumours could predict the likelihood of false-negative axillary ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Screening and symptomatic patients were identified from pathology records and imaging and pathology records reviewed. True and false-negative axillary staging ultrasound groups were compared statistically in terms of tumour size, pathological type and grade, lymphovascular invasion, and oestrogen receptor (ER) status. RESULTS: Of 155 women with normal ultrasounds, 45 (29%) were node positive at axillary surgery. Breast tumour size was significantly different with the average size smaller in the true-negative group: 21 versus 30 mm (p < 0.02). The histological type varied significantly between the groups, with more lobular carcinomas in the false-negative group [6/110 (5%) versus 6/45 (13%), p < 0.001]. The false-negative group was also more likely to show lymphovascular invasion in the breast [6/110 (5%) versus 14/45 (31%), p < 0.001]. There was no significant difference in tumour grade or ER status. CONCLUSION: The present study has found significant differences in tumour characteristics between women with true-negative and false-negative axillary staging ultrasound in terms of size, primary tumour histological type and presence of lymphovascular invasion. In particular, axillary ultrasound in primary lobular carcinoma may be less accurate and a negative result is more likely to be spurious than with primary ductal carcinomas.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 497-499 |
Number of pages | 0 |
Journal | Clin Radiol |
Volume | 66 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2011 |
Keywords
- Aged
- Axilla
- Breast Neoplasms
- False Negative Reactions
- Female
- Humans
- Lymph Nodes
- Lymphatic Metastasis
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Ultrasonography