The sonographic feature of level Ⅱaxillary lymph node metastases from breast cancer / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the feature of level Ⅱaxillary lymph nodes from breast cancer detected by ultrasound. Methods Eighty-nine cases of breast cancers with level Ⅱaxillary lymph nodes diagnosed in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2008 to October 2013 were retrospectively studied, including 66 cases of breast cancer patients pre-operatively, 23 cases of breast cancer post-operatively, all cases were female. The number, size, long/short ratio, presence of a hilum, and Doppler features of the lymph nodes were observed. The accuracy sensitivity, speciifcity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of each signiifcant parameter were analyzed. Results Ultrasound examination revealed more than axillary lymph nodes, the accuracy sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing lymph nodes were 71.9%, 56.8%, 89.7%, 87.9%and 61.4%respectively. The maximum diameter of levelⅡaxillary lymph node was more than or equal to 10 mm, the accuracy sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing lymph nodes were 67.4%, 58.0%, 79.5%, 78.4%and 59.6%respectively. If there were two ultrasonographic characteristics simultaneously, the diagnostic sensitivity (87.8%) and accuracy (78.6%) could be significantly improved, the specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing lymph nodes were 60.0%, 72.3%and 80.0%. Conclusion The number and size of lymph nodes in level Ⅱaxillary area are valuable sonographic characteristics for the diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph nodes.