STUDY OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ON REGIONAL LYMPH NODES OF THE BREAST

Palpation as a preoperative test, which is routinely performed in the majority of cases to examine lymph nodes in the breast, appears insufficient. Particularly, preoperative state of the lymph nodes is important in decisionmaking process for restricted surgery. This report describes a detailed investigation of CT obtained from the axillary region (AX. CT); CT scanner (3mm in width) takes several views of the affected breast and lymph nodes, and a map of the regional lymph nodes isdrawn. Comparison of the map with the extirpated specimens resulted in the following findings: 1) AX. CT could determine 16.6±3.7 lymph nodes per case. Successful drawing rate was 68.0% (n=21) when compared to extirpated ones (24.4±7.8). 2) Regional determination of drawn lymph modes could be attained from distances from the axirally vein. 3) In lymph nodes 3mm or more in diamete, various findings including shape, internal structure, adhesion between lymph nodes each other, and spiculation were shown. 4) The above findings and CT values could successfully estimate the metastasized lymph nodes.