Risk stratification system for sentinel lymph node metastasis in clinically node-negative early breast cancer with sonographically abnormal but cytologically negative axilla.

ABSTRACT: For clinically node-negative (cN0) breast cancer patients with sonographically suspicious lymph nodes (iN+) but negative fine-needle aspiration cytology (N0(f)), sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) remains the first-line approach for axillary staging. However, most of these patients ultimately demonstrate SLN-negative pathology, highlighting a critical need for a risk stratification to safely reduce unnecessary SLNB procedures. To address this unmet clinical challenge, we developed a preoperative risk stratification model integrating clinicopathological and ultrasonographic features. This prospective cohort study analyzed 369 consecutive iN+/N0(f) early breast cancer patients who underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-guided SLN fine-needle aspiration between September 2022 and Decemb

SUBMITTER: Lin W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12739128 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature