ABSTRACT
Objective To explore preoperative high-frequency ultrasound in diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastases in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods Data of 212 patients with PTC were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into cervical lymph node non-metastasis group (n=103) and cervical lymph node metastasis group (n=109). The ultrasonic characteristics of the two groups were compared, and lymph node distribution was analyzed in cervical lymph node metastases group. Results The ultrasonic characteristics of cervical lymph node metastasis group included ill-defined boundary between the cortex and medulla of the cervical lymph nodes, combined with the absence of lymphatic hilum and echo enhancement (94/109, 86.24%), the long axis and short axis ratio less than 2 (77/109, 70.64%), the short axial diameters more than 5 mm (45/109, 41.28%), the internal multiple punctuate echogenic foci (19/109, 17.43%), the peripheral vascularity or mixed vascularity (58/109, 53.21%), the abundant blood supply (53/109, 48.62%), while those in cervical lymph node non-metastasis group were 16.50% (17/103), 2.91% (3/103), 11.65% (12/103), 1.94% (2/103), 17.48% (18/103) and 16.50% (17/103), respectively. All these ultrasonic characteristics were significantly different between the two groups (all P<0.001). Taken surgical division as standards, the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative ultrasound for lymph node dissection in cervical lymph node metastasis group was 57.58% (38/66) in level , 75.00% (3/4) in level , 81.25% (13/16) in level , and 76.92% (10/13) in level III, 70.00% (7/10) in level Ⅱ. Conclusion Preoperative PTC with cervical lymph node metastasis has characteristic high-frequency ultrasound features, which may guide surgical treatment strategy in cervical lymph node dissection.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of establishing an isolated porcine liver machine perfusion model and assess its value in high-intensity focused ultrasound studies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-one isolated porcine livers were perfused with autologous blood for 4 h through dual vessels (portal vein and hepatic artery) cannulation using an extracorporeal circulation machine under a sub-normothermic perfusion condition. The perfusion model was assessed by monitoring the liver color, texture, liver weight gain, hemodynamic parameters, color Doppler flow imaging, bile output and histopathology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nineteen isolated porcine livers were successfully cannulated with dual vessels, and failure of hepatic artery intubation occurred in two porcine livers. After machine perfusion for 4 h, the isolated livers maintained a soft texture with stable hemodynamic levels within relative normal physiological ranges. The bile output was more than 3 ml/h within the initial 3 h of perfusion. Histopathological examination demonstrated no morphological or structural changes of the liver tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The isolated porcine liver perfusion model is stable and feasible, and can be used for high-intensity focused ultrasound studies.</p>