The use of Doppler ultrasound in evaluation of @entity0 XXXX to axillary lymph nodes.

@entity1 @entity0 @entity7 @entity5 @entity3
The formation of microvessels in @entity5 by angiogenesis is considered to be an important prognostic factor, and closely correlates with lymph node @entity3 . We used color Doppler ultrasound to examine the relationship between the amount of blood vessels in @entity5 and pulsatility index (PI), and @entity5 size in @entity0 , with and without regional lymph node @entity3 . Doppler ultrasound was performed on 80 @entity1 with @entity0 prior to surgery. The concentration of @entity7 ( @entity7 ) within the @entity5 was measured following surgery in 42 cases chosen at random. In the negative metastatic nodes group, the number of vessels in the @entity5 correlated positively with @entity5 diameter. In the positive metastatic nodes group, however, the number of blood vessels in the @entity5 did not correlate with @entity5 diameter. Differences in @entity5 vascularity between node positive and negative groups were useful in determining the status of node @entity3 in subsequent analysis. Fifteen of 17 cases of @entity5 that measured <20 mm, and in which there were no blood vessels, were node-negative. There were no node-negative @entity5 measuring >20 mm in diameter (p=0.003). Conversely, in nodes with positive @entity3 , blood vessels were observed in 5 of 7 @entity5 that measured <15 mm in diameter (p=0.019). These findings may be useful in estimating the likelihood of @entity3 to regional lymph nodes. PI was directly proportional to @entity5 size in the negative nodes group (r=0.47). There was no such correlation in the positive nodes group. There was no correlation between @entity7 concentration in the @entity5 and the number of blood vessels in that @entity5 . In conclusion color Doppler analysis of blood vessels appears to be useful in predicting lymph node @entity3 , especially for small @entity5 .
