To Evaluate Sono-Elastography Features of Inguinal Lymph Node in cases of Carcinoma Penis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Inguinal lymph nodes are the commonest siteof penile metastasis whose incidence varies from 50% to 70%depending on the stage of disease . To differentiate reactionaryto metastatic lymph node fine needle aspiration cytology, trucut needle biopsy and dissection of inguinal lymph node hasbeen used. We tried to evaluate sono-elastography features ofinguinal lymph node in cases of Carcinoma Penis. Study aimedto evaluate sono-elastography, B-mode ultra-sonography andtheir combination for characterization of palpable inguinallymph node in patients of carcinoma penis.Material and method: 34 lymph node evaluated with sonoelastography for elastogram and strain ratio, B-mode ultrasonography and their combination which were compared withtrucut needle biopsy taken as gold standardResults: The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracyof B-mode ultra-sonography, sono-elastography and theircombination is 78%, 82%, 86%; 84%, 80%, 81% and89%, 73%, 79% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity ofelastography strain ratio by taking 2.3 as cutoff is 89.5% and86.7% respectively.Conclusion: US elastography appears to be a promising toolfor differentiating benign and malignant lymph nodes. Furtherstudies are needed to fully standardize the clinical applicationof this technique with large sample size at multiple centers.