Clinical significance of axillary lymph nodes a observed in mediolateral oblique view of mammography

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. 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. 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 1.5 cm 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 1.5 cm in 4 cases (57%), absence of central lucency in 7 cases (100%) and iso-to higher density than breast parenchyma in 7 cases (100%). Axillary lymph nodes noted on MLO view of mammography, more than 1.5 cm in diameter, absence of central lucency and iso to higher density than breast parenchyma could be suggested as clinically significant