Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - National Cancer Institute - Department of Surgical Oncology

To evaluate axillary lymph node (ALN) response to anthracycline - based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (AB - NACT) in advanced non metastatic breast cancer, using clinical examination, ultrasonography and ALD. Evaluating aforementioned tools as predicators of the state of ALN, in trial to raise the possibility of applying the concept of sentinel lymph node biopsy as a predicator of ALN. Prospective study includes 50 female patients with locally advanced non metastic breast cancer. True cut biopsy of the primary tumor , fine needle aspiration cytology of ALNs to document nodal metastases performed before AB - NACT. Response of ALN assessed clinically and sonographically, followed by appropriate mastectomy procedure as dictated by each patient's condition and ALND were done in all patients. Primary tumor and ALND specimens were submitted for pathological examination with additional immunohistochemical (IHC) section on negative ALN in some patients

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