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The biological behavior and prognosis of breast cancer is often unpredictable with a number of factors contributing to the outcome. Nottingham's Prognostic Factor (NPI) takes into account the tumor size, nodal status, and histological grade of tumor. The receptor status considers the hormone receptor and HER2 status. The aim of the study was to correlate the NPI score with the receptor status expression in Indian women with breast cancer. A total of 78 breast cancer patients who underwent upfront modified radical mastectomy were recruited. NPI score and receptor status assessment was done at histopathological examination of the specimen. Hormone receptor negative breast cancer tended to have a higher NPI score compared to hormone receptor positive patients. However, this difference did not achieve statistical significance. NPI score parameters except for the histological grade are a reflection of the duration or time span of the tumor. On the contrary, the receptor status is indicative of the tumor biology and not of its time duration. A scoring system which incorporates the three parameters of the NPI as well as the receptor status would be the best prognostic index as well as predictive regarding the choice of adjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonogram-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of the axillary lymph nodes using a 7–12 MHz linear transducer was carried out on 102 breast cancer patients in whom there was no clinically palpable lymph node in the axilla. Ultrasound was able to visualize an axillary node in 55 patients (54%) while in 47 patients (46%), no node was visualized. USG-guided FNAC on the 55 patients found 9 (16%) patients to be positive for metastases, 27 (49%) to be negative, and 19 (35%) in whom an inconclusive or inadequate sample was reported. On correlation with post-modified radical mastectomy (MRM) histopathology, the preoperative USG-guided FNAC had a sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 100%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 58%. It can be concluded that patients with a positive for malignancy USG-guided FNAC report on the axilla should be treated as such. Patients who have a negative for malignancy or inconclusive/inadequate FNAC report or in patients in whom no axillary node is visualized on USG should undergo a sentinel node biopsy procedure for further evaluation of the axilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]