Elastosonography and two-dimensional ultrasonography in diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

• Published in: Clinical radiology 2018-03, Vol.73 (3), p.312-318
• Main Authors: Zhao, Q.-L., Xia, X.-N., Zhang, Y., He, J.-J., Sheng, W., Ruan, L.-T., Yin, Y.-M., Hou, H.-L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2017.09.013

To compare diagnostic value of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography and elastosonography for suspected axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. Elastosonography and 2D ultrasonography were performed on 78 axillary lymph nodes of 78 patients with suspected breast cancer. Scores of shape, long- to short-axis ratio, cortical thickness, and lymph node hilum were summed as the score of each lymph node at 2D ultrasonography, while a four-point scale was adopted for elasticity scoring. The combined score of each lymph node was obtained by summing the score at 2D ultrasonography and that at elasticity scoring. The strain ratio was calculated by comparison of the average strain of the lymph node with that of the subcutaneous tissue. Diagnostic efficacies of 2D ultrasonography, elasticity scoring, and the combined method were compared. There were 78 axillary lymph nodes, including 34 non-metastatic and 44 metastatic nodes. The elasticity scores of non-metastatic and metastatic axillary lymph nodes were 1.44±0.82 and 3.11±0.75, respectively (p