Table 5.
Categories of 18 F-FDG PET/CT combined with ultrasonography for indications of ALND/PSC
| Category | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| AUS | - | - | + | + |
| 18F-FDG-uptake | - | + | - | + |
| No. of involved ALNs | ||||
| 0 | 117 (85) | 6 (50) | 1 (20) | 0 (0) |
| 1 | 12 (9) | 5 (42) | 2 (40) | 9 (32) |
| 2 ≦ Involved ALNs ≦ 5 | 6 (4) | 1 (8) | 1 (20) | 9 (32) |
| 6 ≦ | 3 (2) | 0 (0) | 1 (20) | 10 (36) |
| The maximum size of involved ALNs | ||||
| ≦ 5 mm | 10(48) | 5 (83) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| 5 mm < metastasis < 10 mm | 7(33) | 1 (17) | 2 (50) | 6 (21) |
| 10 mm ≦ | 4(19) | 0 (0) | 2 (50) | 22(79) |
| Nuclear grade of involved ALNs | ||||
| Grade 1 and 2 | 16(76) | 3 (50) | 4 (100) | 13(46) |
| Grade 3 | 5(24) | 3 (50) | 0 (0) | 15(54) |
| Frequency of involved ALNs | 15% | 50% | 80% | 100% |
| Indications of ALND/PSC | SNB | FNAC/Bx is needed | FNAC/Bx is needed | Acceptable |
| Total | 138 (100) | 12 (100) | 5 (100) | 28 (100) |
AUS, Axillary ultrasound; ALN, Axillary lymph node; ALND, ALN dissection; PSC, Primary systemic chemotherapy; No., Number; pts, patients; FNAC, Fine needle aspiration