Risk factors for axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the risk factors of axillary lymph node metastasis by analyzing the acoustic image characteristics of the automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) of breast cancer masses.Methods:The imaging features of ABVS of 212 patients with breast cancer, unilaterally and singly, confirmed by pathological examination admitted in Hangzhou First People’s Hospital from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 83 cases with axillary lymph node metastasis (metastatic group) and 129 cases without (non-metastatic group) . The correlation of clinical and the imaging features of ABVS with axillary lymph node metastasis was analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. ROC curve was used to analyze the cut-off value of the maximum diameter of the mass in predicting the breast cancer axillary lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of each risk factor were analyzed for predicting breast cancer axillary lymph node metastasis.Results:The retraction phenomenon and micro-calcification of breast cancer in the metastatic group (60.2%, 65.1%) were higher than those in the non-metastatic group (43.4%,37.2%) ( P=0.017 vs P<0.001) . The maximum diameter of the breast cancer in the metastatic group was bigger than in the non-metastatic group ( Z=2.18, P=0.029) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the micro-calcification of breast cancer ( OR=2.522, P=0.003) was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. The area under the curves and the cut-off value of the maximum diameter of the mass in predicting the breast cancer axillary lymph node metastasis were 0.589 and 2.85 cm. The sensitivity was 34.9%, the specificity was 82.9%, the positive predictive value was 56.9%, and the negative predictive value was 66.5%. The sensitivities of micro-calcification and retraction phenomenon to predict the occurrence of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients were 65.1% and 60.2%, specificities were 62.8% and 56.6%, positive predictive values were 52.9% and 47.2%, and negative predictive values were 73.6% and 68.9%. Conclusion:The study suggests that the maximum diameter, micro-calcification, and retraction phenomenon of masses are associated with the occurrence of the axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.