TY - JOUR
T1 - Patients with breast cancer
T2 - Differences in color Doppler flow and gray- scale US features of benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes
AU - Yang, Wei Tse
AU - Chang, Jenny C.
AU - Metrewell, Constantine
PY - 2000/1/1
Y1 - 2000/1/1
N2 - PURPOSE: To document differences in color Doppler flow and gray-scale ultrasonographic (US) features between benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes in women with primary breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The longitudinal-transverse axis ratio and hilar status on color Doppler flow and gray-scale US images were prospectively studied for each of 145 axillary nodes in 135 women (74 palpable nodes in 69 women, 71 nonpalpable nodes in 66 women) with primary breast cancer. Intranodal flow distribution was described as peripheral, central, or central perhilar. Resistive and pulsatility indexes and peak systolic velocity were documented. For comparison of benign and malignant features, nodes were divided into three groups: palpable and nonpalpable, palpable, and nonpalpable. RESULTS: Color flow was demonstrated equally well in benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes for all three groups. For all nodes, peripheral flow was significantly higher in malignant (118 of 153 nodes [77%]) than benign (45 of 160 nodes [28%]) nodes (P < .001); central flow and central perhilar flow were significantly greater (P < .002 and < .001, respectively) in benign than malignant nodes. Similar differences were not observed in nonpalpable nodes. The mean longitudinal- transverse axis ratio (±SD) was significantly lower in malignant (1.8 ± 0.6) than benign (2.6 ± 0.8) nodes. Logistic regression analysis showed peripheral, central, and central perhilar flow and the mean longitudinal- transverse axis ratio to be significant independent predictors of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler flow and gray-scale US features applicable to the identification of disease in palpable axillary nodes in patients with breast cancer are not applicable to nonpalpable nodes.
AB - PURPOSE: To document differences in color Doppler flow and gray-scale ultrasonographic (US) features between benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes in women with primary breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The longitudinal-transverse axis ratio and hilar status on color Doppler flow and gray-scale US images were prospectively studied for each of 145 axillary nodes in 135 women (74 palpable nodes in 69 women, 71 nonpalpable nodes in 66 women) with primary breast cancer. Intranodal flow distribution was described as peripheral, central, or central perhilar. Resistive and pulsatility indexes and peak systolic velocity were documented. For comparison of benign and malignant features, nodes were divided into three groups: palpable and nonpalpable, palpable, and nonpalpable. RESULTS: Color flow was demonstrated equally well in benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes for all three groups. For all nodes, peripheral flow was significantly higher in malignant (118 of 153 nodes [77%]) than benign (45 of 160 nodes [28%]) nodes (P < .001); central flow and central perhilar flow were significantly greater (P < .002 and < .001, respectively) in benign than malignant nodes. Similar differences were not observed in nonpalpable nodes. The mean longitudinal- transverse axis ratio (±SD) was significantly lower in malignant (1.8 ± 0.6) than benign (2.6 ± 0.8) nodes. Logistic regression analysis showed peripheral, central, and central perhilar flow and the mean longitudinal- transverse axis ratio to be significant independent predictors of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler flow and gray-scale US features applicable to the identification of disease in palpable axillary nodes in patients with breast cancer are not applicable to nonpalpable nodes.
KW - Axilla
KW - Breast neoplasms, metastases
KW - Lymphatic system, neoplasms
KW - Lymphatic system, US
KW - Ultrasound (US), Doppler studies
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U2 - 10.1148/radiology.215.2.r00ap20568
DO - 10.1148/radiology.215.2.r00ap20568
M3 - Article
C2 - 10796941
AN - SCOPUS:0034000235
SN - 0033-8419
VL - 215
SP - 568
EP - 573
JO - Radiology
JF - Radiology
IS - 2
ER -