Ultrasound of the axilla: where to look for the sentinel lymph node

Aims The aim of this paper is to guide the radiologist to the most likely location of the sentinel lymph node (SLN). Materials and methods Patients with invasive breast cancer underwent axillary ultrasound examination. The position and morphological appearances of the lymph nodes were noted and core...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical radiology 2010-05, Vol.65 (5), p.373-376
Main Authors: Britton, P, Moyle, P, Benson, J.R, Goud, A, Sinnatamby, R, Barter, S, Gaskarth, M, Provenzano, E, Wallis, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Axilla
Biological and medical sciences
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Female
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Lymph Nodes - diagnostic imaging
Lymph Nodes - pathology
Lymphatic Metastasis
Mammary gland diseases
Medical sciences
Radiology
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Tumors
Ultrasonography
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Summary:Aims The aim of this paper is to guide the radiologist to the most likely location of the sentinel lymph node (SLN). Materials and methods Patients with invasive breast cancer underwent axillary ultrasound examination. The position and morphological appearances of the lymph nodes were noted and core biopsy (CB) was performed of the largest or most suspicious node. Those patients whose biopsy revealed no evidence of malignancy proceeded to a surgical sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) looking for histopathological evidence of previous CB. Results Of 121 patients who underwent axillary ultrasound and CB no malignancy was identified in 73, all of whom subsequently underwent SLNB. Histological evidence of CB in the SLN was identified in 47 (64%) patients. The position of all the lymph nodes identified on ultrasound and the 47 patients whose SLNs were identified were drawn on composite diagrams of the axilla. Of the 36 nodes identified as sentinel whose position relative to other nodes could be determined, 29 (81%) represented the lowest node identified in the axilla, four (11%) were the second lowest, and three (8%) were the third lowest node. None of the four patients whose CB was from the fourth lowest node had the CB site identified at subsequent SLNB. Conclusion Ultrasound of the axilla should be carried out in a systematic fashion focusing on level I nodes paying particular attention to the lowest one or two lymph nodes.
ISSN:0009-9260
1365-229X
DOI:10.1016/j.crad.2010.01.013