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Current Breast Cancer Reports
Published in: Current Breast Cancer Reports 4/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Breast Cancer Screening and Imaging (HTC Le-Petross and BE Adrada, Section Editors)

Axillary Nodal Staging with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Authors: Nisha Sharma, Karina Cox

Published in: Current Breast Cancer Reports | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Axillary staging in the context of breast cancer is a contentious topic due to the varied practices across UK, Europe, and America. The ACOSOG Z0011 trial has questioned the role of axillary ultrasound in women with breast cancer. Published data has shown that women with ultrasound-positive lymph nodes have a worse prognosis than those with ultrasound-negative lymph nodes. Axillary ultrasound is limited as the sentinel lymph node (SLN) cannot be identified using B-mode ultrasound; however, with the advent of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), this has now changed.

Recent Findings

The published literature has shown that the sentinel lymph node can be identified using CEUS. The rates are equivalent to blue dye alone but currently inferior to the dual technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy. There are several different contrast agents that can be used and the agents that remain in the sentinel lymph node for longer can identify areas of poor enhancement, allowing for targeted biopsy.

Summary

CEUS has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage the axilla in the future and may even replace surgical staging.
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Metadata
Title
Axillary Nodal Staging with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
Authors
Nisha Sharma
Karina Cox
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Breast Cancer Reports / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 1943-4588
Electronic ISSN: 1943-4596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-017-0258-3

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