Ultrasound (US) elasometry in axillary lymph node (ALN) staging for breast cancer (BC) patients.

e12538Background: Tissue elasticity is related to pathology and, therefore, has important medical applications.US elastometry helps to determine the stiffness of the ALN that might be the characteristic of the metastasis. The goal of the study was to determine the status of ALN with the US elastometry comparing with the results of histological examination of surgical specimens. Methods: Materials: Between 2013 and 2015 shear wave speed (SWS) and tissue elasticity measurements were performed preoperatively in 72 women with BC stage 0-IIIC using S2000 Siemens System. Median age was 57 years. 9 women received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. SWS of less than 2.1 m/s was in normal ALN. SWS of > 3 m/s was in mts ALN. SWS of 2.1-3 m/s was in suspicious ALN. A fine niddle aspiration (FNA) was performed in this case. ALN dissection was performed in all 72 patients. Results: According to elastometry ALN mts were detected in 19 (26.4%) patients. Suspicious ALN were detected in 17 (23.6%) patients, FNA was performed to the...