Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema
Published on: January 12, 2017
Axillary ultrasonography for early-stage invasive breast cancer
Karen Jiang1, Crystal Ma1, Yuwei Yang2
1Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Background:
Among women with early invasive breast cancer and 1-2 positive sentinel nodes, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is non-inferior to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).1-3 However, preoperative axillary ultrasonography (AxUS) may not be sensitive enough to discriminate burden of nodal metastasis in these patients, potentially leading to overtreatment.4-6 This study compares axillary operation rates in patients who did and did not receive preoperative AxUS, assessing its utility and risks for overtreatment.
Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with clinical T1/T2 breast tumors who were clinically node negative and underwent an axillary operation.
Results:
Patients who had preoperative AxUS received more ALND compared to patients who did not (5.6% vs. 1.4%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the number of additional axillary operations following SLNB (2.1% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.77).
Conclusion:
Eliminating preoperative AxUS is associated with fewer invasive ALND procedures, without increased rate of axillary reoperations.
More Related Videos
13:35Endoscopic Bilateral Nipple-sparing Mastectomy via a Single Axillary Incision with Immediate Pre-pectoral Implant-based Breast Reconstruction
Published on: May 17, 2024
06:03Integrating Augmented Reality Tools in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Prognostication and Diagnosis
Published on: February 6, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Ultrasonography
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called...
Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...