Ultrasonography in the preoperative evaluation of axillary lymph nodes in the patients with breast cancer

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasonography in diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.Methods The axillary lymph nodes in 164 patients with breast cancer were performed by ultraonography.The location,size,shape,internal echo,lymph hilum,corticomedullary structure and flow pattern of lymph node were explored.Results The detection rate of axillary lymph nodes was 73.2%.The detection rates of axillary lymph nodes of group Ⅰto group Ⅲ were 61.1%,21.3% and 18.1%,respectively.There were significant differences in the shape,internal echoes,lymph hilum,corticomedullary structure and flow pattern between malignant and benign axillary lymph nodes.The round or fused shape,internal hypoehcocity,hilar disappearance,vague corticomedullary structure and abundant flow were mainly observed in metastatic lymph nodes,and the diagnostic accuracy for metastatic lymph nodes were 97.5%,95.8%,89.2%,85.8% and 65.0%,respectively.Conclusion Ultrasonography is an effective method to evaluate the status of axillary lymph nodes before operation,which could provide important reference value for clinical treatment and prognosis of the patient with breast cancer.