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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 64. No. 2, 2025.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.02.19

Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography for Distinguishing Benign and Malignant Axillary Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients

Cihan Kalkan orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-8906-2608 ; Department of Radiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey; Radiology Clinic, Acipayam State Hospital, Denizli, Turkey
Ilkay Koray Bayrak ; Department of Radiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Mesut Ozturk orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-4059-2656 ; Department of Radiology, Samsun University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey *
Ahmet Veysel Polat ; Department of Radiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey

* Corresponding author.

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound (US) and shear wave
elastography (SWE) in distinguishing benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast
cancer. A total of 121 axillary lymph nodes from 61 breast cancer patients (mean age, 52.4±14.6 years)
were enrolled between May 2019 and August 2020. Lymph nodes were histopathologically diagnosed
through core needle biopsy or surgical excision. B-mode US features (short axis diameter, short-to-long
axis diameter ratio, presence of echogenic hilum, presence of asymmetric cortical thickening, cortex
thickness) were assessed and SWE measurements (maximum shear wave velocity (SWVmax), minimum
SWV (SWVmin), median SWV (SWVmedian), mean SWV (SWVmean)) were performed. There were 45
(37.2%) benign and 76 (62.8%) malignant lymph nodes. The short axis diameter, short-to-long axis diameter
ratio, and mean cortical thickness of malignant lymph nodes were significantly higher compared
to benign lymph nodes (p<0.001 all). SWVmean, SWVmedian, SWVmax, and SWVmin of malignant lymph
nodes were significantly higher than those of benign lymph nodes (p<0.001 for all). Both US and SWE
were useful in discriminating between benign and malignant axillary lymph nodes.

Keywords

Breast cancer; Lymph nodes; Elastography; Ultrasonography

Hrčak ID:

337954

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/337954

Publication date:

30.6.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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