Measurement of the width and the depth of internal mammary lymph nodes according to internal mammary artery and vein on CT simulition in breast cancer post-surgery

Abstract

11586 Background: To measure the depth and width of the internal mammary lymph nodes according to internal mammary artery and vein on CT simulation in breast cancer after surgery. Methods: Between July 2001 and June 2007, 73 breast cancer patients who received IMRT after surgery in our hospital were randomly selected. The internal mammary lymph nodes were contoured according to the internal mammary artery and vein showing on CT graphs as the center in the ADAC Pinnacle3 TPS. The horizontal distance against the midsternal line and vertical distance against skin surface in 1∼5 intercostal spaces were measured and the difference between the injured side and the uninjured side were tested. Results: On the injured side of the first three intercostal spaces, the mean width of the internal mammary lymph nodes was 2.676±0.334 cm, with the maximum 3.880 cm and the minimum 1.970 cm, and the mean depth was 2.355±0.700 cm, with the maximum 4.584 cm and the minimum 0.705 cm. On the uninjured side of the first three intercostal spaces, the mean width of the internal mammary lymph nodes was 2.670±0.347 cm, with the maximum 3.780 cm and the minimum 1.925 cm, and the mean depth was 2.317±0.602 cm, with the maximum 4.198 cm and the minimum 0.906 cm. There is no significant difference between two sides on the width and the depth. Conclusions: Internal mammary artery and vein can clearly shown on CT images. The depth of most internal mammary lymph nodes contoured according to internal mammary artery and vein were less than 3 cm (83.6%).The position of the arm has no significant influence on the width and depth of the internal mammary lymph nodes. No significant financial relationships to disclose.