Computed tomography and ultrasonography of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To define criteria for CT and US in differentiating cervical lymph node metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and/or US of 230 metastatic lymph nodes and 228 benign lymph nodes in 147 patients with oral SCC were retrospectively evaluated. The CT and US findings of each lymph node were compared with the histopathological findings. A metastasis was defined on CT as a lymph node with rim or heterogeneous enhancement, or measuring 10 mm or more in the short axis, regardless of enhancement pattern, and on US as having definite internal echoes, regardless of size, or without definite internal or hilar echoes, but measuring 10 mm or more in the short axis. A lymph node with hilar echoes or a ratio of the long to short axis (L/S ratio) of 3.5 or more was considered benign. A lymph node failing to comform to any of these categories was termed questionable. RESULTS: The positive predictive value (PPV) for CT was 90.8% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 70.4%. However, 65.7% of all lymph nodes could not be classified as either metastastic or benign. PPV for US was 96.5% and NPV was 88.1%. 25.5% of all lymph nodes could not be classified as either metastatic or benign. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations in detecting metastases, by including a third category 'questionable' our criteria appear clinically more useful than other current methods based on two groups only.     

Contribution of doppler sonography blood flow information to the diagnosis of metastatic cervical nodes in patients with head and neck cancer: assessment in relation to anatomic levels of the neck

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although sonographic evaluation of cervical adenopathy by use of size criteria is effective, the sensitivity and specificity fall short of that required to make adequate judgments regarding neck dissection. Therefore, we tested whether the combined use of size criteria and Doppler sonographic findings would improve the predictive ability for metastatic cervical nodes. METHODS: We analyzed 338 histologically proved cervical lymph nodes (108 metastatic and 230 nonmetastatic) in 73 patients with head and neck cancer. The sonographic topography of the nodes was compared with dissected specimens, and their position in the neck was categorized into three levels (I, II, and III+IV). The diagnostic accuracy of sonography was evaluated by using the single criterion of short-axis diameter of the node or by the combined criteria of short-axis diameter and Doppler blood flow features (the absence or presence of normal hilar flow). RESULTS: As compared with the single criterion of short-axis nodal diameter, the combined criteria of nodal size and Doppler blood flow patterns increased the diagnostic accuracy of sonography at all levels in the neck. Accordingly, the best cut-off values were improved to 6, 7, and 5 mm for nodes at levels I, II, and III+IV, respectively. In addition, the combined criteria yielded high sensitivites (> or = 89%) and specificities (> or = 94%). CONCLUSION: Hilar blood flow information obtained by Doppler sonography significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for the detection of nodes metastatic from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.     

Power Doppler sonography of cervical lymph nodes in patients with head and neck cancer.

PURPOSEThe purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the usefulness of power Doppler sonography in differentiating metastatic from nonmetastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with cancer.METHODSHistologically proved metastatic (n = 71) and nonmetastatic (n = 220) lymph nodes were examined with power Doppler sonography in 77 patients with head and neck cancer. Power Doppler sonography was assessed for its ability to differentiate metastatic from nonmetastatic lymph nodes.RESULTSPower Doppler sonography showed characteristic features of parenchymal blood flow signal in 59 (83%) of the 71 metastatic lymph nodes. By contrast, only four (2%) of the 220 nonmetastatic nodes showed these power Doppler signals. In addition, power Doppler sonography showed high levels of sensitivity (83%) and specificity (98%) in depicting metastatic lymph nodes, which were superior to the values (66% sensitivity and 92% specificity) obtained by applying size criteria (transverse to longitudinal ratio). However, a combination of the two criteria (parenchymal color signal and transverse to longitudinal ratio) improved diagnostic accuracy to 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity.CONCLUSIONOur preliminary findings suggest that the power Doppler criteria of no hilar flow, peripheral parenchymal nodal flow, and a transverse to longitudinal ratio of more than 0.65 together constitute a powerful tool for depicting metastatic lymph nodes in patients with cancer.     

甲状腺癌颈部淋巴结转移的超声表现及对临床治疗的意义

目的:分析甲状腺癌颈部淋巴结转移的超声表现,探讨转移淋巴结的声像图特征、分布及对临床治疗的指导意义。方法:回顾性分析50例甲状腺癌患者126枚颈部转移淋巴结的超声表现及分布,所有病灶均经手术或超声引导下穿刺活检证实。分析转移淋巴结的长短径比值、边界、皮质厚度、淋巴门、内部囊性变、内部钙化、Adler血流分级、峰值流速(peak systolic velocity,PSV)、RI,并与40枚反应增生性淋巴结对比。结果:转移淋巴结长短径比值较小、边界欠清、皮质增厚、淋巴门高回声消失、内部可见囊性变及钙化、Adler血流分级及PSV均较高,与反应增生性淋巴结相比差异有统计学意义。结论:甲状腺癌颈部淋巴结转移具有特征性超声表现,其准确诊断及定位有助于指导患者的治疗。     

An overview of neck node sonography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Gray scale and power Doppler sonography are commonly used to evaluate cervical lymph nodes. This study was undertaken to identify which of the features used in ultrasound of cervical lymph nodes is readily applicable in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Two hundred and eight-six patients diagnosed with cervical lymphadenopathy were included in the study. The largest node in each patient was included in the study and the nature of the node was assessed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. Lymph nodes were assessed for their gray scale and Doppler sonographic features. RESULTS: Metastatic, lymphomatous, and tuberculous nodes were round (63-94%) and without echogenic hilus (57-91%). Sharp borders were found in metastatic and lymphomatous nodes (56-100%), but uncommon in tuberculosis (49%). Capsular or mixed vascularity is common in metastatic, lymphomatous, and tuberculous nodes but not found in reactive nodes. Except metastatic nodes from papillary carcinoma of the thyroid that showed low resistance, metastatic nodes had a higher vascular resistance than reactive nodes. Micronodular echo pattern is common in lymphomatous nodes. Hyperechogenicity and punctate calcification are typical features for metastatic nodes from papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Intranodal cystic necrosis, adjacent soft tissue edema, matting and displaced hilar vascularity are common features in tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Using gray scale and power Doppler sonography, metastatic, lymphomatous, and tuberculous nodes can be differentiated from reactive nodes. Metastatic nodes from papillary carcinoma, lymphoma, and tuberculosis can be identified. However, it is difficult to differentiate metastatic nodes from squamous cell carcinomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and infraclavicular carcinomas, and differentiate metastatic nodes (nonthyroid primary) from tuberculous lymphadenitis.     

Comparison of sonography and CT for differentiating benign from malignant cervical lymph nodes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

OBJECTIVE: We compared the ability of sonography and CT to differentiate benign from malignant cervical lymph nodes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 209 cervical nodes (102 metastatic and 107 nonmetastatic) from 62 patients with head and neck cancer. These nodes were topographically correlated by node between images and surgical specimens, and accordingly between sonography and CT. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (A(z) value) for the overall impressions of metastatic or nonmetastatic nodes was significantly greater for sonography (power Doppler sonography plus gray-scale sonography, 0.97 +/- 0.005; gray-scale sonography, 0.95 +/- 0.004) than for CT (0.87 +/- 0.018). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis also showed that the greater ability of sonography to depict the internal architecture of the nodes (A(z) value, 0.96 +/- 0.006) compared with CT (A(z) value, 0.81 +/- 0.027) significantly contributed to the better performance of sonography compared with CT in diagnosing metastatic nodes in the neck. On the other hand, size criterion (the short-axis diameter) was equally predictive in sonography and CT. The greater contributions of internal architectures relative to the size criterion of the node in the sonographic assessment for metastatic nodes were further evidenced by the findings that sonography provided higher sensitivity and specificity than CT did, whereas the cutoff points for the short-axis diameter in both tests were equivalent. CONCLUSION: Sonography performed significantly better than CT in depicting cervical metastatic nodes. Sonography could be a useful adjunct to CT in surveying cervical metastatic nodes.     

DWI评估宫颈癌盆腔淋巴结转移的应用价值

目的探讨扩散加权成像(DWI)对于鉴别宫颈癌转移与非转移淋巴结的诊断价值。资料与方法 36例宫颈癌初诊患者于治疗前行常规MRI及DWI检查,观察并比较宫颈癌转移淋巴结与非转移淋巴结常规MRI及表观扩散系数(ADC)图表现,测量各淋巴结的长径(L)、短径(S)、T2信号强度、平均ADC值和最小ADC值,利用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积(Az)评价上述各项指标鉴别宫颈癌转移与非转移淋巴结的诊断效能。结果转移淋巴结短径和长径的平均秩次均大于非转移淋巴结,且两者差异具有统计学意义(均为P=0.000),而转移淋巴结与非转移淋巴结的L/S、S/L以及T2信号强度差异均无统计学意义(P=0.261;P=0.157;P=0.166);转移淋巴结的平均ADC值和最小ADC值均低于非转移淋巴结,且差异均具有统计学意义(均为P=0.000);短径、长径、平均ADC值和最小ADC值对鉴别宫颈癌转移与非转移淋巴结均有诊断意义(Az>0.5),其中最小ADC值的诊断效能最高,选取最小ADC阈值为0.983×10-3mm2/s时,其敏感性和特异性分别为94.6%和91.8%。结论 DWI有助于宫颈癌转移和非转移淋巴结的检出,最小A...     

Distribution of intranodal vessels in differentiating benign from metastatic neck nodes

AIM: Recent studies report high accuracy of power Doppler sonography in the differentiation of benign from malignant cervical lymphadenopathy. This study was undertaken to identify which of the parameters used in Doppler sonography of cervical lymph nodes is accurate and readily applicable in routine clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the power Doppler ultrasound examinations of 50 patients with cytologically proven metastatic nodes from nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 50 patients with proven reactive lymphadenopathy. All the examinations had been performed by an experienced sonologist, and intranodal vascular distribution and resistance were evaluated during real-time ultrasound. Twenty metastatic nodes and 40 reactive nodes were less than 10 mm in maximum transverse diameter. The vascular patterns of lymph nodes were classified into three categories: (1) hilar; (2) capsular; (3) hilar and capsular. The resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured by spectral Doppler. RESULTS: Although metastatic nodes (RI, 0.81 +/- 0.11; PI, 1.89 +/- 0.89) tended to have higher intranodal vascular resistance than reactive nodes (RI, 0.65 +/- 0.08; PI, 1.07 +/- 0.26), there was considerable overlap of the resistance parameters between benign and malignant nodes. Most of the metastatic nodes showed the presence of capsular vascularity (capsular, 16%; capsular and hilar, 78%), whereas the majority of the reactive nodes showed hilar vascularity (98%), and the difference was significant. CONCLUSION: The distribution of intranodal vascularity appears to be more useful than RI or PI in differentiating benign from malignant cervical lymphadenopathy. It is also easier to evaluate the distribution and the results are therefore readily applicable in routine clinical practice.     

Patients with breast cancer: differences in color Doppler flow and gray-scale US features of benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes

PURPOSE: To document differences in color Doppler flow and gray-scale ultrasonographic (US) features between benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes in women with primary breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The longitudinal-transverse axis ratio and hilar status on color Doppler flow and gray-scale US images were prospectively studied for each of 145 axillary nodes in 135 women (74 palpable nodes in 69 women, 71 nonpalpable nodes in 66 women) with primary breast cancer. Intranodal flow distribution was described as peripheral, central, or central perhilar. Resistive and pulsatility indexes and peak systolic velocity were documented. For comparison of benign and malignant features, nodes were divided into three groups: palpable and nonpalpable, palpable, and nonpalpable. RESULTS: Color flow was demonstrated equally well in benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes for all three groups. For all nodes, peripheral flow was significantly higher in malignant (118 of 153 nodes [77%]) than benign (45 of 160 nodes [28%]) nodes (P <.001); central flow and central perhilar flow were significantly greater (P <.002 and <.001, respectively) in benign than malignant nodes. Similar differences were not observed in nonpalpable nodes. The mean longitudinal-transverse axis ratio (+/- SD) was significantly lower in malignant (1.8 +/- 0.6) than benign (2.6 +/- 0.8) nodes. Logistic regression analysis showed peripheral, central, and central perhilar flow and the mean longitudinal-transverse axis ratio to be significant independent predictors of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler flow and gray-scale US features applicable to the identification of disease in palpable axillary nodes in patients with breast cancer are not applicable to nonpalpable nodes.     

Gray scale and power Doppler US in the preoperative evaluation of axillary metastases in breast cancer patients with no palpable lymph nodes

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of gray scale and Doppler US findings in the detection of axillary metastases in breast cancer patients with no palpable lymph nodes. One-hundred and ninety-eight lymph nodes detected in 83 women were evaluated. The size and longitudinal/transverse axis ratios of each node were documented. Absence of echogenic hilum, asymmetrical cortical thickening, and presence of peripheral flow were prospectively considered signs of malignancy. Histopathologically, there were 93 malignant and 105 benign nodes. The above criteria and a low longitudinal-transverse axis ratio were statistically significant for malignancy. In lymph nodes smaller than 1 cm, only asymmetric cortical thickening and presence of peripheral flow were significant. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of US were 86.49, 93.62, 91.43, 89.8 and 90.48%, respectively. In conclusion, US is successful and reliable in the determination of axillary metastatic involvement in nonpalpable and small lymph nodes. Inclusion of axillary US in the preoperative diagnostic evaluation would be complimentary to sentinel node biopsy, and also could eliminate the need for it in patients with positive US results, after confirmation with biopsy.     

Vascularity and grey-scale sonographic features of normal cervical lymph nodes: variations with nodal size

AIM: This study was undertaken to investigate variations in the vascularity and grey-scale sonographic features of cervical lymph nodes with their size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High resolution grey-scale sonography and power Doppler sonography were performed in 1133 cervical nodes in 109 volunteers who had a sonographic examination of the neck. Standardized parameters were used in power Doppler sonography. RESULTS: About 90% of lymph nodes with a maximum transverse diameter greater than 5 mm showed vascularity and an echogenic hilus. Smaller nodes were less likely to show vascularity and an echogenic hilus. As the size of the lymph nodes increased, the intranodal blood flow velocity increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant variation in the vascular resistance(P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide a baseline for grey-scale and power Doppler sonography of normal cervical lymph nodes. Sonologists will find varying vascularity and grey-scale appearances when encountering nodes of different sizes.Ying, M.et al. (2001). Clinical Radiology, 56, 416-419.     

Combination of helical CT and Doppler sonography in the follow-up of patients with clinical N0 stage neck disease and oral cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Correctly diagnosing metastatic nodes is important for the follow-up of patients with clinical N0 stage neck disease and oral cancer. A combination of helical CT and Doppler sonography may facilitate the accurate detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical N0 stage neck disease. METHODS: A combination of contrast-enhanced helical CT and Doppler sonography was performed to monitor the necks of 58 patients with initial clinical N0 stage neck disease. Of these patients, 17 underwent surgery; nodal metastasis in the neck was histopathologically confirmed. A node was diagnosed as metastatic if it fulfilled the CT criteria for metastatic nodes (short-axis diameter equal to or greater than the cutoff points for each level of the neck or central nodal necrosis) and if, additionally, it did not exhibit sonographic features for nonmetastatic nodes (normal hilar echogenicity and hilar flows). The presence of metastasis was confirmed histopathologically. RESULTS: During the follow-up periods, metastatic nodes were histologically confirmed in 17 (29%) patients. Of 30 metastatic nodes from the 17 patients with metastatic nodes, 22 (73%) appeared within the first year and 28 (93%) within the first 2 years; 20 developed from nonmetastatic nodes, and 10 were newly detectable. The combined criteria were effective in revealing 26 (87%) nodes, yielding 87% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 100% positive and 99% negative predictive values. The independent use of one of these techniques alone resulted in low (67%) or moderate (87%) positive predictive values for sonography and CT, respectively. Seven hundred forty-one (97%) of 761 nodes that were nonmetastatic at initial examination remained nonmetastatic (737 nodes) or had disappeared (four nodes). As a result, a combination of CT and sonography was effective in revealing all 17 cases of metastatic nodes. CONCLUSION: A combination of contrast-enhanced helical CT and Doppler sonography is useful for the follow-up study of clinical N0 stage neck disease.     

彩色多普勒超声评价肿瘤血管在甲状腺结节诊断中的应用

目的:研究甲状腺结节内肿瘤血管及颈部转移淋巴结的彩色多普勒超声表现。方法:分析42例甲状腺癌和46例甲状腺良性结节的血管形态及血流动力学特征。结果:甲状腺癌及甲状腺癌复发病例中,69.0%(29/42)血流为Alder2级或3级,38.1%(16/42)可见穿入性或分支异常的血管,71.4%(30/42)血流为高阻力型(RI>0.7)。甲状腺良性结节中,上述表现发生率分别为39.1%(18/46)、6.5%(3/46)、10.9%(5/46)。23例甲状腺癌可见颈部转移性淋巴结,其中82.6%(19/23)的血流形态表现为紊乱分布的包膜下血流。结论:甲状腺癌肿瘤血管的发现及颈部淋巴结的血流表现有助于甲状腺癌的正确诊断。     

Usefulness of echo-color Doppler in differentiating parathyroid lesions from other cervical masses

. The aim of our study was to clarify possible differential color Doppler US features between parathyroid lesions and other cervical masses. A total of 56 parathyroid lesions in 54 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were preoperatively examined with color Doppler sonography. Color Doppler flow patterns were compared with those of 72 thyroid nodules and 20 cervical lymph nodes. In 38 parathyroid lesions a correlation between color Doppler patterns and size, location, and pathological findings was performed. Color Doppler sonography showed five vascular distribution patterns: pattern I, absence of flow; pattern II, focal peripheral flow (“vascular pole”) with arterial Doppler spectrum; pattern III, peripheral flow; pattern IV, internal flow (“parenchymal pattern”); pattern V, peripheral and intranodular flow. Pattern I was not specific for any cervical lesion considered. Conversely, pattern IV was observed solely in parathyroid lesions, and pattern II was observed in only one nonparathyroid lesion (thyroid nodule). Mixed pattern (pattern V) was observed solely in thyroid nodules. In addition, pattern III was a characteristic finding of thyroid nodules and was observed in only one parathyroid lesion. Color Doppler patterns of the parathyroid masses did not correlate with the size of the lesion or pathological findings, but only with the location of the gland. Our study showed that color Doppler assessment of parathyroid lesions is a useful integration of gray-scale US and may be helpful in distinguishing parathyroid lesions from other cervical masses. Received 6 November 1995; Revision received 9 January 1996; Accepted 19 February 1996     

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasonography and computed tomography in detecting mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes from bronchogenic carcinoma

We investigated and compared the ability to diagnose metastasis of lung cancer to the mediastinum and hilar lymph nodes using CT and EUS (endoscopic ultrasonography by radial scanning method) in 27 patients undergoing resection of primary lung cancer and 6 autopsy cases. We also determined the relationship between the presence or absence of metastasis and the size of each lymph node based on the lymph node size measured at the time of resection and its histopathological findings, and we then set up a standard value that was the most accurate in evaluating the presence or absence of metastasis using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. When lymph node sizes appearing as images were compared with their actual sizes measured on resected specimens before formalin fixation, the short axis measured by either method was found to generally agree with the actual values, while the long axis was slightly smaller than the actual values, although EUS gave more accurate values. When the ability to diagnose metastasis was compared between CT and EUS using the standard value obtained from the ROC curve (a more than 8 mm short axis was defined as positive for metastasis), there were no differences in the ability to delineate the entire area of the mediastinum, including hilar lymph nodes. With respect to individual sites, although there was some difficulty delineating some regions in the mediastinum (pretracheal lymph node) with EUS, more lymph nodes in the mediastinum that were delineated by EUS histopathologically had metastatic lesions than those delineated by CT. However, both methods often failed to delineate hilar lymph nodes, with no difference shown between these two methods.     

早期乳腺癌无创腋窝淋巴结分期的临床初步观察

目的：探讨超声检查评估乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移状态的临床应用价值。方法入组军事医学科学院附属医院2013年12月至2015年9月期间连续收治的282例新发 Tis-T2期乳腺癌患者,指定2名高年资超声医师行腋窝超声检查,根据淋巴结声像学参数,将患者分为转移组、未转移组或可疑组。腋窝淋巴结分期以病理学结果作为金标准,分析超声检查评估乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移的准确性,比较各组腋窝淋巴结转移负荷;单因素及多因素Logistic 回归分析各个声像学参数对判断腋窝淋巴结转移状态的预测价值。结果超声判断腋窝淋巴结转移组＋未转移组的灵敏度、特异度、阳性及阴性预测值、准确度分别为85．6％、87．1％、86．4％、86．3％和86．3％,Kappa 值为0．727（P ＜0．001）。在病理证实腋窝淋巴结转移患者中,超声判断未转移组的平均淋巴结转移负荷明显低于超声转移组（1．2／6．9枚,P ＜0．001）,超声判断为未转移而病理结果证实为转移的患者共16例,其中14例患者腋窝淋巴结转移负荷仅为1枚,其余2例患者分别为2枚和3枚。单因素 Logistic 回归分析显示,最大皮质厚度预测腋窝淋巴结转移诊断效能最佳（ROC 曲线下面积为0．872）;多因素 Logistic 回归分析显示,最大皮质厚度、髓质与皮质厚度比值与腋窝淋巴结转移相关（P ＜0．05）。多因素 Logistic 回归模型 ROC 曲线下面积为0．879,灵敏度及特异度分别为77．0％和85．1％。结论超声检查评估腋窝淋巴结转移具有较高的准确性;超声判断假阴性的患者腋窝淋巴结转移负荷较低。最大皮质厚度是判断腋窝淋巴结转移最主要的声像学参数。在早期乳腺癌患者中,超声检查无创评估可能是潜在的替代前哨淋巴结活检行腋窝淋巴结分期的手段。     

Role of axillary lymph node ultrasound and large core biopsy in the preoperative assessment of patients selected for sentinel node biopsy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of axillary lymph node sonography, if necessary in combination with US-guided large core biopsy, in the preoperative evaluation of breast cancer patients scheduled for quadrantectomy and sentinel lymph node excision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2001 to December 2002, we evaluated 117 breast cancer patients with ultrasound and, where indicated, FNAB. Breast lesions had diameters between 4 and 26 mm (mean diameter 11 mm). Fifteen (13%) of the 117 patients were excluded from the series as they did not fulfil the criteria for preliminary sonography of the axilla: in 9 patients fewer than 4 nodes were detected and in 6 patients the breast lesions were intraoperatively found to be benign. Eleven patients (10.7 %) with sonographically suspicious axillary nodes were sampled by US-guided core biopsy using a 14 or 16 Gauge Tru-Cut needle. RESULTS: The ultrasound study aims to evaluate the dimensions and morphology of the breast lesion as well as detect and assess at least 4 axillary nodes. These were evaluated for hilar and cortical thickening and ratio between the sinus diameter and the total longitudinal diameter. Lymph nodes with hilar diameters equal to or greater than 50% of the longitudinal diameter were considered normal. Of the 102 patients evaluated, 77 (75.7%) had normal axillary nodes according to the US criteria adopted. Negativity was confirmed by histology in 56 cases (72.7%, true negative); 21 (27.3%, false negative) were found to be positive, in contrast with the sonographic appearance. The false negative cases were due to lymph node micrometastasis which probably did not cause morphologic alterations perceptible at ultrasound. The remaining 25 patients (24.5%) had axillary lymph nodes classified as suspicious. In 13 cases of (52%, true positive) there was agreement with histology, whereas in 12 cases (48%, false positive) the US suspicion was not confirmed at surgery. The most important sonographic alteration was the gradual reduction in hilar echogenicity (seen in 100% metastatic nodes); conversely, hilar denting or irregularities, as well as dimensional criteria, proved to be poorly specific. CONCLUSIONS: The sonographic assessment of axillary and internal mammary chain nodes, possibly in addition to core biopsy, improves the preoperative evaluation of breast cancer patients scheduled for conservative surgery of the breast (quadrantectomy) and the axilla (sentinel node biopsy). US findings suspicious for metastatic involvement of axillary lymph nodes should be considered as an exclusion criterion for sentinel node biopsy. A more widespread use of axillary node biopsy and an accurate sonographic evaluation of the excised lymph node increase the specificity of the procedure, allowing a better correlation between sonographic findings and definitive histology.     

High-resolution ultrasound to diagnose melanoma metastases in patients with clinically palpable lymph nodes

High-resolution ultrasound was used to determine if it could predict the presence of metastatic disease in 52 patients with melanoma who had developed newly palpable lymph nodes during clinical follow-up. Ultrasound proved accurate in diagnosing the presence of nodal metastases; it had a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 87% and an accuracy of 89%. The ultrasound features which together were diagnostic of the presence of nodal metastases were a node thickness greater than two-thirds of the node length and the presence of low-level echoes in the node. When these two features were both present on ultrasound, node metastases were present in every case. Ultrasound can be used to evaluate newly palpable lymph nodes in patients with melanoma. A normal ultrasound finding does not exclude micrometastases, but a lymph node showing the two key ultrasound features aforementioned is highly likely to contain metastatic disease and should be treated accordingly.     

Analysis of cervical metastatic lymphadenopathy by ultrasonography

One hundred and eight cervical lymph nodes of 37 patients were evaluated by ultrasonography. All lymph nodes were examined histologically, and among them 63 lymph nodes were metastatic nodes. If submandibular, submental, mid and inferior internal jugular lymph nodes larger than 8 mm, and superior internal jugular lymph nodes larger than 9 mm had been regarded as metastasis, high sensitivity (92%) was demonstrated. All of 31 lymph nodes with unclear or irregular margin were metastatic. Eccentric hyperechoic area, which was considered to be the hilus of the lymph node, was observed in 20 nodes. Those were non-metastatic lymph nodes. Otherwise, all of 48 lymph nodes with inhomogeneous internal echoes or with central hyperechoic area and peripheral hypoechoic zone were metastatic. The in vivo and in vitro ultrasonograms of 25 lymph nodes were compared with histopathological findings. The metastatic region was not differentiated with the remaining area of the lymph node by ultrasonography. Necrosis showed an-, hypo-, iso-, or hyperechoic. Fibrosis showed iso- or hyperechoic. Inhomogeneous internal echoes were proved to be necrosis and fibrosis, and such a lymph node was metastatic. The eccentric hyperechoic area of the non-metastatic lymph node was attributed to fatty tissue. Ultrasonography was a useful examination for evaluating cervical lymph nodes.     

Change of sonographic findings on cervical lymph nodes before and after preoperative radiotherapy

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the power Doppler sonographic findings in patients with oral cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We performed US examinations on 187 cervical lymph nodes (71 metastatic and 116 reactive nodes) excised from 52 patients before and after preoperative therapy. On Power Doppler images, we calculated the vascular index (VI) and evaluated the vascular pattern. We also assessed the diagnostic power using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Irradiation caused an increase of the VI and better visualization of the vessels within the lymph node in the reactive nodes; however, in the metastatic nodes, the VI was not significantly different between that before and after irradiation. When the reader observed the images before irradiation, the area under an ROC curve (Az values) observed by B-mode sonography were closely similar to those obtained by B-mode plus power Doppler sonography. With both images before and after irradiation, the Az value obtained by B-mode plus power Doppler sonography was higher than that by B-mode sonography alone. After irradiation, the enhanced Doppler signals contributed to a better visualization of the vessels and a better detection of any vascular abnormalities.