DETECTION OF LYMPHATIC METASTASIS OF LUNG CANCER BY INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHY / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the value of intraoperative ultrasonography (IUS) in detecting the lymph nodes in mediastinum and hilum during lung cancer surgery. Methods Lymph nodes were detected in every part of the mediastinum and hilum by IUS in 33 cases with lung cancer during surgery. The number, size and location of lymph nodes were recorded, and the metastasis to lymph nodes was predicted by the sonographic features and geometric measurement respectively. Mediastinum was explored and lymph nodes resection was performed in each case, and each resected lymph node was sent for pathological examination. Results The sensitivity of IUS in detecting lymph nodes in mediastinum and hilum was 83.6% (163/195) and the positive predictive value was 97.0%(165/168). The result of detecting lymph nodes with IUS was influenced by their location and size. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of IUS in diagnosing lymphatic metastasis with respect to geometric measurement were 70.3%, 71.7%, 71.2%, respectively, and were 85.7%, 75.0%, 83.3%, respectively, with respect to sonographic features. Conclusions IUS was an effective method for lung cancer surgery in detecting mediastinum lymph nodes.