Diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasonography on axillary lymph node metastasis in breast carcinoma

Objective: To compare the accuracy of color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) with palpation in the diagnosis of axillary nodal metastasis in breast cancer.Methods: Preoperative CDU and palpation and postoperative histopathology were performed on 55 axillae of 53 patients undergoing radical surgery for breast cancer.Results: Of the 55 axillae,there were 41 metastatic lymph nodes by pathological examination,35 by palpation,and 39 by CDU.The sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic accordance rate(DCR) were(68.3%,)50.0% and 63.6% in palpation,and 87.8%,78.6% and 85.5% in CDU;there were significant differences in the sensitivity and DCR between the palpation and CDU(P0.05-0.01).Conclusion: CDU has the advantages of high sensitivity and DCR over the palpation,and may be served as a routine examination in the diagnosis of axillary nodal metastasis in breast cancer.