Should axillary ultrasound be used in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ?

Background We evaluated the usefulness of axillary ultrasound (US) in patients with core biopsy–proven ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Methods Preoperative axillary US, fine-needle aspiration (FNA), and sentinel lymph node (SLN) data from women with DCIS were reviewed. Results Eighty-two women with DCIS underwent axillary US. In 16 women (19.5%) US was abnormal; however, FNA was negative in all cases. Sixty-one women (74%) underwent SLN surgery; 2 were positive for macrometastasis (3%) and 1 had isolated tumor cells. None of them had an abnormal US. Axillary US did not change the management in any of the cases. Conclusions Axillary US and FNA did not change the management in any of the 82 cases. In women with a core biopsy diagnosis of DCIS, positive nodes are uncommon and unlikely to be detected by axillary US. Routine preoperative axillary US is not recommended for pure DCIS on core biopsy.