Objective:

To investigate the relationship between axillary lymph node metastasis and tumor features (clinicopathologic and ultrasonographic features) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods:

In this study

162 female patients were selected

with TNBC confirmed by pathology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Janua

ry 2016 to September 2019

including lymph node metastasis group with 58 patients and non-metastasis group with 104 patients. The association of clinicopathological (including age

Ki-67 proliferation index

histological grade) and ultrasonographic features of TNBC with axillary lymph node metastasis was determined by univariate and logistics regression analyses.

Results:

Univariate analysis showed that the parameters of age (45 years)

histological grade (Ⅲ grade)

tumor size (＞20 mm)

edge and blood flow grade (Ⅱ-Ⅲ grade) were significantly different between the two groups

which were correlated with axillary lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=0.452

P=0.048)

histological grade (OR=0.346

P=0.012)

tumor size (OR=2.273

P=0.023) and tumor edge (OR=0.410

P=0.038) were independent risk factors for axillary lymph node metastasis in TNBC.

Conclusion:

Ultrasonographic features combined with clinicopathologic features can predict the metastasis of axillary lymph nodes in TNBC and guide the clinical selection of axillary lymph node surgery.