MRI evaluation of axillary and intramammary lymph nodes in the postoperative period Journal Article
| Authors: | Horvat, J. V.; Morris, E. A.; Bernard-Davila, B.; Martinez, D. F.; Leithner, D.; Ochoa-Albiztegui, R. E.; Thakur, S. B.; Pinker, K. |
| Article Title: | MRI evaluation of axillary and intramammary lymph nodes in the postoperative period |
| Abstract: | Our study aimed to evaluate if breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant treatment could affect the morphological features of axillary and intramammary lymph nodes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with invasive breast cancer and clinically negative axilla. In this single-center study, we retrospectively evaluated 50 patients who had (a) breast-conserving surgery, (b) clinically negative axilla, (c) preoperative MRI within 3 months before surgery, and (d) postoperative MRI within 12 months after surgery. Axillary and intramammary lymph nodes on postoperative MRI were identified and then compared with preoperative MRI by two breast radiologists with regards to the following: enlargement, cortical thickening, presence of fatty hilum, irregularity, heterogeneity, matting, and axillary lymph node asymmetry. Three hundred and two axillary and eight intramammary lymph nodes were evaluated. Enlargement and cortical thickening were seen in 5/50 (10%) patients in three axillary and two intramammary lymph nodes. None of the lymph nodes on postoperative MRI demonstrated occurrence of lack of fatty hilum, irregularity, heterogeneity, matting or axillary lymph node asymmetry. No evidence of recurrence was observed on 2-year follow-up. Lymph node enlargement and cortical thickening may be observed in a few patients in the postoperative period. Nevertheless, in patients with clinically negative axilla, these changes in morphology are often related to treatment rather than malignancy and favor short-term follow-up as an alternative to lymph node biopsy. © 2019 The Authors. The Breast Journal Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
| Keywords: | postoperative period; magnetic resonance imaging; lymph nodes; recurrence; breast neoplasms |
| Journal Title: | Breast Journal |
| Volume: | 25 |
| Issue: | 5 |
| ISSN: | 1075-122X |
| Publisher: | Wiley Blackwell |
| Date Published: | 2019-09-01 |
| Start Page: | 916 |
| End Page: | 921 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1111/tbj.13355 |
| PUBMED: | 31175688 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC6754287 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Export Date: 1 October 2019 -- Source: Scopus |
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
Related MSK Work