Assessment of response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in carcinoma breast patients by high-frequency ultrasound

Abstract

Aim: To assess the response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in carcinoma breast patients by high-frequency ultrasound. Material and Method: The current single blind, observational study was conducted at rural tertiary healthcare center of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital from October 2018 to Sept 2020. We incorporated breast cancer patients with TNM stages IIIA and IIIB who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide/Adriamycin/5 FU and Paclitaxel respectively followed by standard surgical procedure modified radical mastectomy. Successive ultrasound examination of the breast malignancy and the axilla was done after 21 days of either of any neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 3 cycles. Assessment of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was applied in terms of reduction in the breast tumour volume on ultrasound and percentage of tumour response calculated by Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumours (RECIST). Data were analysed using SPSS version 24.0. Results: Higher frequency of patients was invasive ductal breast cancer. In our study, Paclitaxel group showed better response in terms of CR and PR than CAF group. Our study noticed a consistent decrement in tumour volume after every cycle of either CAF or Paclitaxel NACT. Axillary ultrasound was able to predict the response of axillary lymph nodes in terms of increase or decrease in number and morphological changes after 3 cycles of NACT with similarity on final histopathology. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the results of the present study that high-frequency ultrasound is appropriate tool for assessment of response of primary breast malignancy and lymphnode metastasis in the axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The Role of Ultrasound in Axillary Lymph Node Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

“…In light of the fact that ultrasound is better in assessment because it is more affordable and widely available, several review studies on this are in agreement with our study (23) .…”

Role of Ultrasonography in Response Assessment Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Breast Carcinoma: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center

“…Most of the patients (52.5%) in our study had stage IIIB disease, similar to the findings by Alassas et al where out of 34 patients assigned NACT, 23 (68%) patients had stage IIIB disease. Dighe et al also had similar results [6,7].…”