ASSESSING THE USE OF VARIOUS RADIOLOGICAL MODALITIES IN EVALUATING AUXILIARY LYMPH NODES IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY BREAST CANCER
Keywords:
Axillary lymph nodes, Colour Doppler, Elastography, Grayscale ultrasound, Primary breast cancer, Prospective studyAbstract
Background: The axillary lymph nodes are the most prevalent location of breast cancer metastases. One of the most important and dependable prognostic variables for individuals with breast cancer is the presence of axillary lymph nodes. It's critical to distinguish benign axillary lymph nodes from malignant ones as soon as possible in order to enhance survival and outcomes and avoid treatable lesions from becoming incurable.
Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the axillary lymph nodes in participants undergoing colour doppler, strain wave elastography, and greyscale ultrasonography, and to correlate the results histopathologically.
Additionally, the results of combined greyscale ultrasonography and elastography were compared to those of greyscale ultrasound in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and negative and positive predictive values.
Methods: After histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of carcinoma in the breast, 68 subjects had their axillary lymph. nodes evaluated for vascularity, shape, size, hilum presence/absence, cortical thickness, long/short axis ratio (L/S ratio), and fatty hilum thickness ratio (C/F ratio). Histopathology verified the diagnosis after it was established.
Results: It was shown that round form in morphology, irregular nodular borders, elevated cortical thickness, elevated/compressed or missing hilum, and higher C/F ratio all favoured malignancy.
Based on the resistivity index, vascular flow pattern type, and peak systolic/end-diastolic velocity/ratio, benign and malignant lymph nodes were distinguished. The mean strain ratio was greater in malignant lymph nodes than in benign lymph nodes.
Conclusions: Because ultrasound is accurate, easily accessible, radiation-free, and reasonably priced, it should be routinely included in the initial screening of subjects with breast carcinoma. This includes strain elastography, colour Doppler, and greyscale ultrasound.
