Metastatic axillary lymphadenopathy of unknown primary

Last revised by Yusra Sheikh on 18 Dec 2023

Metastatic axillary lymphadenopathy of unknown primary can be a very challenging situation. 

Usual potential sites include:

  • occult breast cancer: the incidence of an axillary lymph node manifestation from an occult primary breast cancer is low, ranging from 0.3-0.8% of all patients with carcinoma of the breast at presentation 1

  • occult lung cancer

  • occult malignant melanoma

  • occult head and neck malignancies

When a breast primary is suspected this is one of the indications for breast MRI.

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads