Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of axillary lymph node for prediction of breast cancer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective To explore the predictive value of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)in local advanced breast cancer with contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)of axillary lymph node.Methods CEUS of metastatic axillary lymph nodes in 58 patients stacng Ⅱ-Ⅲ breast cancer was performed before and after NAC treatment. The enhancement patterns and parameters of time-intensity curve were assessed and compared with the pathology.Results The clinic response evaluation were drug-effective in 35 cases and no change in 23 ones.There Were no significant differences in enhancement patterns between no-change and drugeffective groups.Lymph node cortex arriving time was longer in drug-effective cases than that in no-change ones after NAC,whereas it showed no significant differences before NAC.Statistical significant difierence in enhancement duration(ED)was found between the two groups before NAC,which decreased markedly in drug-effective case8 after NAC.Histopatholngic response could be predicted with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 90% by standardized ED below 275 seconds after NAC.No significant difference was found in time to peak(TP),peak intensity(PI)between the two groups.Conclusion The perfusion pattern of axillary lymph node CEUS after NAC Was insufficient to predict curative effect.But the lymph node cortex arriving time and enhancement duration may be of value in the prediction of clinical response to chemotherapy. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Drug thempy; Neoplasms metastasis; Lymphgraphy