PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic characteristics of axillary lymph nodes which are found on mediolateral oblique(MLO) view of mammography and to assess their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 119 cases axillary lymph nodes on MLO view of 410 cases of mammography in 205 patients regarding the size, bilaterality, number, grade of density, presence of central lucency, calcification of lymph nodes and presence of associated parenchymal pathologic lesions in breast. RESULTS: Axillary lymph nodes on MLO view were demonstrated in 119 (29%) among 410 cases. Axillary lymph nodes(112 cases) in cases without breast parenchymal lesions or with benign breast lesions showed; unilaterality in 68 cases(61%), smaller than 1.5cm in 100 cases(89%), lower density than breast parenchyma in 99 cases(88%), presence of central lucency in 99 cases(88%) and calcification in 3 cases(2.7%). Axillary lymph nodes(7 cases)in cases with breast cancer showed small size of less than 1.5cm in 4 cases(57%), absence of central lucency in 7 cases(100%) and iso-to higher density than breast parenchyma in 7 c&ses(100%). CONCLUSION: Axillary lymph nodes noted on MLO view of mammography, more than 1.5cm in diameter, absence of central lucency and iso to higher density than breast parenchyma could be suggested as clinically significant.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mammography ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic characteristics of axillary lymph nodes which are found on mediolateral oblique(MLO) view of mammography and to assess their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 119 cases axillary lymph nodes on MLO view of 410 cases of mammography in 205 patients regarding the size, bilaterality, number, grade of density, presence of central lucency, calcification of lymph nodes and presence of associated parenchymal pathologic lesions in breast. RESULTS: Axillary lymph nodes on MLO view were demonstrated in 119 (29%) among 410 cases. Axillary lymph nodes(112 cases) in cases without breast parenchymal lesions or with benign breast lesions showed; unilaterality in 68 cases(61%), smaller than 1.5cm in 100 cases(89%), lower density than breast parenchyma in 99 cases(88%), presence of central lucency in 99 cases(88%) and calcification in 3 cases(2.7%). Axillary lymph nodes(7 cases)in cases with breast cancer showed small size of less than 1.5cm in 4 cases(57%), absence of central lucency in 7 cases(100%) and iso-to higher density than breast parenchyma in 7 c&ses(100%). CONCLUSION: Axillary lymph nodes noted on MLO view of mammography, more than 1.5cm in diameter, absence of central lucency and iso to higher density than breast parenchyma could be suggested as clinically significant.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mammography ; Retrospective Studies