Ultrasonographic application in predicting axillary lymph nodes metastasis in patients with breast cancer

Objective To evaluate the implication of ultrasonographic features of primary breast cancer tumors and axillary lymph nodes in predicting axillary lymph nodes metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Methods A total of 108 patients with breast cancer were underwent examination of primary breast tumors and axillary lymph nodes by high frequency linear-array probes of ultrasound. The ages of patients, locations of primary tumors, numbers of tumors, maximum diameters of tumors, the longitudinal transverse axis ratio of tumors, mass boundary, ultrasonic patterns, micro-calcification, classification of blood supply, color pixel density（CPD）, peak systolic velocity, resistance index, the longitudinal transverse axis ratio of axillary lymph nodes and maximum cortical thickness of axillary lymph nodes were recorded. Results Out of 108 patients with breast cancer,the longitudinal transverse axis ratio of tumor were greater than 1 in 75 （69.4% ）, micro-calcification in 57（52.8% ）, classification of blood supply were II - III in 57 （52.8 % ）, CPD were greater than or equal to 10% in 48 （44.4%）,maximum cortical thickness of axillary lymph node were greater than or equal to 3 mm in 51 （47.2%）,and longitudinal transverse axis ratio of lymph nodes were less than 1.5 in 59 （54.6%）. Univariate analysis revealed that these six parameters were correlated to the axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer （ P 〈0.05）. However,ages of patients, location of tumor in the breast, numbers of tumors, maximum diameters of tumors, mass boundary, ultrasonic patterns, peak systolic velocity and resistance index were not related to the axillary lymph node metastasis（ P 〉0.05）. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that CPD （OR： 16. 337, 95% CI： 4. 537 - 58. 826）, longitudinal transverse axis ratio of lymph nodes （OR.. 3. 754, 95% CI：1.269- 11. 108） and microcalcificationand （OR..3. 033,95 % CI：1. 040 - 8. 840） were risk factors of axillary lymph nodes metastasis in patients with breast lancer. Conclusions The application of ultrasonography in patients with breast cancer is useful in predicting axillary lymph nodes metastasis. Key words: Ultrasonography ;  Breast neoplasms ;  Lymphatic metastasis