Incidental Axillary Lymphadenopathy Found on Radiation Planning Computed Tomography

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of axillary node-positive disease in patients with early breast cancer who had a suspicious axillary lymph node on radiation planning computed tomography (CT).

A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of all patients with breast cancer who were referred for axillary ultrasound from the radiation unit to the breast imaging unit at the Meirav Breast Center, Sheba Medical Center, from 2012 to 2022. Ethics approval was obtained. Only the records of patients who were referred due to an abnormal axillary lymph node seen on radiation planning CT were further evaluated.

During the study period, a total of 21 patients were referred to the breast imaging unit for evaluation of suspicious nodes seen on radiation planning CT. Of these, 3 cases were excluded. A total of 15 out of the 18 (83%) patients included had an abnormal lymph node in the ultrasound, and an ultrasound-guided biopsy was recommended (BI-RADS 4). Of these, 3 (out of 15, 20%) had a positive biopsy for tumor cells from the axillary lymph node. Two were cases after primary systemic therapy without complete pathologic response. Thickening of the lymph node cortex and complete loss of the central fatty hilum were associated with pathologic lymph node.

Sonar had limited ability to differentiate reactive nodes from involved nodes. The presence of lymph nodes with loss of cortical-hilum differentiation on ultrasound together with clinical features are parameters that can help guide the need of further biopsy. Histopathology evaluation is important to make the diagnosis of residual axillary disease. Future studies and guidelines are needed to improve the diagnostic abilities and reduce the number of patients who are undergoing biopsy for noninvolved nodes.