Lymph node microcalcifications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A therapeutic response marker

Article type: Case Report

Authors: da Costa Vieira, René Aloisio^{a; b;} | da Rocha, Camila Andrade^b | Falcão-Junior, Pedro Cavalcanti^c | de Oliveira, Luiz Carlos Navarro^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Surgical Oncology, Breast Division, Muriaé Cancer Hospital, Muriaé, MG, Brazil | [b] Department of Radiology, Breast Division, Muriaé Cancer Hospital, Muriaé, MG, Brazil | [c] Department of Pathology, Muriaé Cancer Hospital, Muriaé, MG, Brazil

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: René Aloisio da Costa Vieira, Centro de Estudos – Hospital de Câncer de Muriaé, Avenida Cristiano Ferreira Varella, 555, Bairro Universitário, Muriaé, MG, CEP 36.888-233, Brazil. E-mail: reneacv@gmail.com

Abstract: Lymph node microcalcifications are rare events, and when they are accompanied by neoplasia, they usually seem to be associated with a metastatic condition. We present a case of a patient with breast cancer and lymph node microcalcifications undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). A change in the calcification pattern towards becoming coarse was observed. Calcification represented a marker of axillary disease, and it was resected after NCT. This is the first report of a patient with lymph node microcalcification undergoing NCT. We observed a change in the calcification format, which facilitated lymph node sentinel identification. Pathological evaluation indicated metastatic disease.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms, neoadjuvant therapy, lymph nodes, microcalcifications, sentinel lymph node biopsy

DOI: 10.3233/BD-220025

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 17-21, 2023