Prediction of high nodal burden with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients

Abstract

Background: Although the role of axillary imaging has been redirected for predicting high nodal burden rather than predicting nodal metastases since ACOSOG Z1011 trial, it remains unclear whether and how axillary lymph node (ALN) characteristics predicts high nodal burden. Our study was aimed to evaluate the predictive value of imaging characteristics of ALNs at ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prediction of high nodal burden (≥3 metastatic ALNs) in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients. Methods: Clinicopathological and imaging characteristics were evaluated in patients with ultrasound (n = 312) and MRI (n = 256). Imaging characteristics include number of suspicious ALNs and cortical morphologic changes (grade 1, cortical thickness < 2 mm; grade 2, 2-5 mm; grade 3, ≥5 mm or fatty hilum loss). Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using multivariate analysis. Results: For ultrasound, higher (≥2) T stage (OR = 5.65, P =.005), higher number of suspicious ALNs (2 suspicious ALNs, OR = 6.52, P =.019; ≥ 3 suspicious ALNs, OR = 21.08, P =.005), and grade 3 of cortical morphologic changes (OR = 9.85, P =.023) independently associated with high nodal burden. For MRI, higher (≥2) T stage (OR = 5.17, P =.011) and higher number of suspicious ALNs (2 suspicious ALNs, OR = 69.00, P =.001; ≥ 3 suspicious ALNs, OR = 93.55, P