Prediction of axillary nodal burden using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scoring in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) is a significant predictor of overall patient survival; thus, precise evaluation of ALNM is essential for staging breast cancer, informing multimodal treatment strategies, and ensuring optimal patient care. This study aimed to establish a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for predicting extensive axillary nodal metastasis in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer derived from preoperative breast and axillary MRI.

Methods: This study included 226 patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer who underwent preoperative breast and axillary MRI between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.