Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between proximity of breast cancer to the skin and incidence of axillary nodal metastasis in order to clarify a new guideline in the treatment of early cancer breast.
Patients and methods
This study included 50 female patients with early cancer breast (T1 and T2). All patients underwent breast ultrasonography, with special confirmation on the breast cancer distance from skin surface (radiological distance) in addition to pathological assessment of the distance (pathological distance) after surgical excision and its correlation with radiological distance. Breast conservative surgery with axillary clearance was done for 46 patients, whereas four patients underwent modified radical mastectomy.
Results
This study showed that the more proximal the cancer from the skin, the higher the incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis, and the cut-off radiological distance was 1.55 cm, whereas cutoff pathological distance was 1.5 cm. It also proved that ultrasonography is an accurate and reliable method in assessing the breast cancer distance.
Conclusion
Results revealed that breast cancers located closer to the skin surface have a higher incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis.