Jhii-Hyun Ahn, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Eun Ju Son MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eun-Kyung Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jin Young Kwak MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Joon Jung MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Young Hoon Ryu MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ki Keun Oh MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The aim of this study is to elucidate the usefulness of the FDG–PET and ultrasonography to detect the axilla lymph node involvement in breast cancer.

From January 2005 to December 2006, total 273 consecutive patients with breast cancer were taken FDG–PET and breast ultrasonography before surgery. If the FDG–PET showed focal hot uptake in ipsilateral axilla, it was diagnosed as positive for lymph node metastasis. In ultrasonography, loss of hilum or eccentric cortical thickening over 2mm were considered as positive. Each imaging findings were compared with pathologic report that the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis, the number of metastatic lymph nodes, and the size of breast mass.

176 patients were invasive ductal carcinoma, 38 were ductal carcinoma in situ, and 59 were others (invasive cribriform carcinoma, invasive apocrine carcinoma, infiltrating lobular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, and mucinous carcinoma). Pathologically confirmed axillary lymph node metastasis were 66 (24.2%). 61 patients (22.3%) had revealed focal uptake in axilla on FDG–PET, and 196 patients (71.8%) suggested axillary lymph node metastasis on US. The size of main mass was 2.12±1.15cm, and the number of metastatic lymph nodes in pathology was 4.9±6.80. In the detection of lymph node metastasis, overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of FDG–PET was 56.1%, 88.4%, 60.7%, 86.3% and those of US was 86.4%, 32.9%, 29.1%, 88.3%, respectively. The number of metastatic lymph nodes on pathology were related with the positivity of FDG–PET (p<0.05).

The FDG–PET was highly specific for diagnose the lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, but showed high false negative. On the other hand, the US revealed high sensitivity, but showed relatively high false positive rate. The FGD–PET and US may have complementary role in evaluation of lymph node metastasis on breast cancer patients.

The FGD–PET and US may have complementary role in evaluation of lymph node metastasis on breast cancer patients.

Ahn, J, Son, E, Kim, E, Kwak, J, Jung, J, Ryu, Y, Oh, K, et al, , et al, , The Role of FDG–PET and Ultrasonography in Detection of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis of Breast Cancer Patients.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5014300.html