The role of ultrasound guided core biopsy of axillary nodes in predicting macrometastases and avoiding overtreatment outside ACOSOG Z0011 parameters.

Background: Z0011 study suggests patients with minimal disease do not require axillary clearance. Exclusions include T3 tumours, mastectomy or neoadjuvant treatment. This study assessed the utility of pre-operative US-guided core biopsy of axillary nodes and its correlation with nodal macrometastases.