Preliminary study of real-time three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.
PURPOSE
To investigate the clinical value of real-time three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and drainage lymphatics in breast cancer patients.


METHOD
The prospective study was performed in women with pathology-confirmed T1/2 breast cancer between June 2016 and December 2017 who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy and 3D-CEUS. The number, size, location, enhancement pattern of SLNs, and the lymphatic drainage patterns were reviewed. The routes, location of SLNs, and lymph channels (LCs) on the surface were marked. All patients underwent blue dye-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) finally.


RESULTS
According to the postoperative pathology findings and the blue dye staining of the lymphatic drainage routes, there are six patterns of lymphatic drainage routes and the coincidence rate of the 3D-CEUS was 97.4%; the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, the LN detection rate, and the correct diagnosis rate of the 3D-CEUS were 75%, 93.0%, 81.8%, 89.9%, 95.3%, and 87.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSION
3D-CEUS is a new feasible and useful approach to detect the SLNs and LCs. 3D-CEUS can accurately localize the LCs and SLNs and estimate the presence of metastatic lymph nodes.


KEY POINTS
• The three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound can detect the sentinel lymph nodes. • The three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound can show the stereo direction of sentinel lymph nodes and lymph drainage routes. • The three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound can accurately localize the LCs and SLNs and estimate the presence of metastatic lymph nodes.
['Hu|Ziyue|Z|', 'Cheng|Xueqing|X|', 'Li|Juan|J|', 'Jiang|Jingzhen|J|', 'Jiang|Zirui|Z|', 'Li|Hui|H|', 'Li|Tingting|T|', 'Zhang|Zhenqi|Z|', 'Tan|Bo|B|', 'Lu|Man|M|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3455-834X']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001943:Breast Neoplasms D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular D003287:Contrast Media D005260:Female D006801:Humans D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional D008198:Lymph Nodes D042601:Lymphatic Vessels D008875:Middle Aged D011446:Prospective Studies D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity D000071036:Sentinel Lymph Node D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy D014463:Ultrasonography
Sentinel lymph node Breast cancer Contrast media Ultrasonography