Objective To explore the value of trans-lymphatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer. Methods The patients with suspected thyroid cancer underwent conventional ultrasound and trans-lymphatic CEUS examinations before the biopsy.The differences in ultrasound and CEUS characteristics of cervical lymph nodes between the metastatic group and the non-metastatic group were compared,and pathological results were regarded as the golden standard. Results Twenty patients had thyroid cancer,including 12 cases with lymph node metastasis and 8 cases without metastasis.The diagnostic sensitivity(91.7%
Contrast Media ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography

Quantum dots(QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals composed of element from the periodic groups of II(-IIIIII( or III(-IIIII(, which possess wide excitation spectra and narrow emission spectra. The maximum emission wavelength of QDs can be controlled in a relatively simple manner by variation of particle size and composition. QDs can be tuned at a variety of precise wavelengths from ultraviolet(UV) to near infrared(NIR). QDs can be conjugated to a wide range of biological targets, including monoclonal antibodies, proteins, polymers and nucleic acid probes. These characteristics make it not only for revealing interaction of nucleic acids, proteins and other biological macromolecules, by biological imaging but also for detection of lymph node metastasis through preoperative and introperative lymphatic imaging. Along with the continuously improvement of observation techniques and quantum dot structure optimization in recent years, the research on lymph node imaging is ongoing.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Proteins ; Quantum Dots

OBJECTIVEUsing radioactive nano tracer with different sizes (average diameter were 50, 80 and 100 nm) and dosages (0.01 and 0.02 ml) in the thyroids of rabbits, to study the drainage of thyroid to cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in rabbits and to provide experimental evidence for the choice of ideal sizes and dosages of radioactive Nano tracer for the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in thyroid cancer patients.

METHODSThirty adult rabbits were randomly divided into six groups (50 nm - 0.01 ml, 50 nm - 0.02 ml, 80 nm - 0.01 ml, 80 nm - 0.02 ml, 100 nm - 0.01 ml, 100 nm - 0.02 ml of (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3)) with five rabbits in each group. A total of 60 sides of thyroids were included. The mean number of LNs with radioactivity, the initial, the strangest and the lasting time of radioactivity in LNs in each group were measured.

RESULTSOne to three LNs were identified in one side neck of rabbits, totally 86 LNs. Most of LNs with radioactivity existed in level VI, counting for 75.6% (65/86). (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) with 50 nm particles was significantly better than that with 80 nm or 100 nm particles with regarding the initial and the strangest radioactive time of (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) in LNs (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in the mean number of LNs with radioactivity, the initial, the strangest and the lasting time of radioactivity between the dosages of 0.01 ml and 0.02 ml of (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) with same size of particles (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION(99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) with 50 nm particles, in the dosage of 0.01 ml or 0.02 ml, could be good choice for SLNB of thyroid cancer.

Animals ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Nanostructures ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; Rabbits ; Radioactive Tracers ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of color Doppler ultrasound in evaluating the mesenteric lymph nodes in healthy children.

METHODSThe mesenteric lymph nodes were examined with color Doppler ultrasonography for 730 randomly selected healthy children under 14 years of age, including 410 boys and 298 girls who did not report any recent medical conditions.

RESULTSAbdominal lymph node detection rate was higher in boys than in girls. Abdominal lymph nodes were detected most often in children between the ages of 1 and 4 years, and the lymph node size decreased gradually with age.

CONCLUSIONColor Doppler ultrasonography is valuable for evaluating abdominal lymph nodes in children.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Mesentery ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Cervical nodal metastases are common in patients with head and neck cancers. Early assessment is important for treatment planning and prognosis. Ultrasound has been widely used in the evaluation of neck lymph nodes, with common parameters including location, size, shape, boundary, hilus, echogenicity, vascular pattern, and resistance index. The diagnostic accuracy has been dramatically improved along with the introduction of new techniques including contrast-enhanced ultrasound, elastography, and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. Neck ultrasound has became an important tool in preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up for patients with head and neck cancers.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study assessed the feasibility of near-infrared (NIR) imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) in investigating the completeness of laparoscopic lymph node (LN) dissection for gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients scheduled for laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer were enrolled in the study. After intraoperative submucosal ICG injection (0.05 mg/mL), LN dissection was performed under conventional laparoscopic light. After dissection, the LN stations of interest were examined under the NIR mode to locate any extra ICG-stained (E) tissues, which were excised and sent for pathologic confirmation. This technique was tested in 2 steps: infra-pyloric LN dissection (step 1) and review of all stations after proper radical node dissection (step 2). RESULTS: In step 1, 15 patients who underwent laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (LPPG) and 15 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) were examined. Seven and 2 E-tissues were obtained during LPPG and LDG, respectively. From the retrieved E-tissues, 1 and 0 tissue obtained during LPPG and LDG, respectively, was confirmed as LN. In step 2, 20 patients were enrolled (13 D1+ dissection and 7 D2 dissection). Six E-tissues were retrieved from 5 patients, and 1 tissue was confirmed as LN in the pathologic review. Overall, 15 E-tissues were detected and removed, and 2 tissues were confirmed as LNs in the pathologic review. Both nodes were from LN station #6, with 1 case each in the LDG and LPPG groups. CONCLUSIONS: NIR imaging may provide additional node detection during laparoscopic LN dissection for gastric cancer, especially in the infra-pyloric area.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green* ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVETo study the cranial-cervical lymph return and pathway in rabbit in order to provide the experimental and theoretical basis for the study of intracranial metastasis of cervical tumor and extracranial metastasis of intracranial tumor.

METHODThe distribution and clearance of tracers were observed after microinjection of lymph developer labeled by 99mTc into cerebral cortex and deep cervical lymph nodes of rabbit.

RESULTSIn the cerebral cortex microinjection with 99=Tc-labeled lymph developer group, the radioactivity were detected in Willis artery, deep cervical lymph nodes and venous blood. The radioactivity curve was the same in Willis artery and deep cervical lymph nodes. The peak in the artery blood was higher than that in venous blood. In the lymph nodes microinjection with 99mTc-labeled lymph developer cervical group, the radioactivity were detected in skull base dura mater, brain, cerebrospinal fluid and venous blood. The peak in skull base dura mater showed earlier than that in cerebrospinal fluid and brain. The peak in venous blood was the last, but the radioactivity in it was the highest.

CONCLUSIONThe cranial-cervical lymph return in rabbit is existent. Their pathway perhaps is Willis artery, skull base dura mater and cerebrospinal fluid circulation.

Animals ; Lymph ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Lymphatic System ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Lymphoscintigraphy ; Male ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to discuss the clinical value of central neck lymph node dissection in papillary thyroid carcinoma, especially in thyroid papillary microcarcinoma (PTMC). Also this article wants to evaluate the diagnostic significance of preoperative ultrasonography of central neck metastasis lymph nodes and the clinical significance of preoperative ultrasonography in central neck lymph node dissection. METHOD: Collected and analyzed 121 cases from September 2012 to December 2013. All of them had done the central neck lymph node dissection with the same standard by the same surgeon in our department. Evaluate the value of preoperative ultrasound diagnostic in thyroid microcarcinoma and non-microcarcinoma. RESULT: In the 121 patients, The 62 patients were diagnosed with PTMC (primary lesion d≤1. 0 cm). Accuracy rate of ultrasound diagnostic was 74. 2% (46/62), the rate of missed diagnosis was 61. 9% (13/21), the rate of misdiagnosis was 7. 3 % (3/41), sensitivity was 38. 1% (8/21), specificity was 92.7% (38/41), positive predictive value was 72. 7% (8/11), negative predictive value was 74. 5% (38/51) and the value of Kappa was 0. 3485. The other 59 patients was diagnosed with thyroid papillary non-microcarcinoma (primary lesion d>1. 0 cm). The accuracy rate was 55. 9% (33/ 59), the rate of missed diagnosis was 58. 3% (21/36), the rate of misdiagnosis was 21. 7% (5/23), sensitivity was 41. 7% (15/36), specificity was 78. 3% (18/23), positive predictive value was 75. 0% (15/20), negative predictive value was 46. 2% (18/39) and the value of Kappa was 0. 1757. CONCLUSION Cervical central lymph node dissection was necessary when the ultrasound diagnosis of cervical central lymph node-positive was prompted suspiciously in the thyroid papillary microcarcinoma. However, when it prompted negative, we could recommend patients to do the prophylactic central lymph node dissection in conjunction with the risk factors. Whether the ultrasound diagnosis of central lymph node was prompted suspiciously or not in the thyroid papillary microcarcinoma and non-microcarcinoma, the central lymph nodes dissection is necessary.
Carcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnostic imaging ; Neck ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

Objective To investigate the correlation between CT texture analysis and synchronous distant metastasis in patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer. Methods The preoperative CT images of 82 patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively.There were 12 patients with simultaneous distant metastasis and 70 patients without simultaneous distant metastasis.The maximum plane of the lesion on plain scan and portal CT images was analyzed by TexRAD software.When the spatial scaling factor(SSF)was 0 and 2-6,six texture parameters were obtained,and the differences of texture parameters between the two groups were compared.The counting data were analyzed by chi-square test and the measurement data by Mann-Whitney test. Results There was a significant difference in the skewness of SSF=3 between the simultaneous distant metastasis group and the non-synchronous metastasis group on plain CT scan(
Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVESTo determine the clinical value of sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection by lympho- scintigraphy and gamma ray detecting probe (GDP) and to assess the value of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) analys is for detecting micrometastasis in lymph nodes (LNs).

METHODSForty-two patients with breast cancer were included in this study. (99)Tc(m)-dextran was injected peritumourally. Lymphoscintigraphy images were obtained in anterior and lateral views. SLNs were removed with the aid of GDP during surgery. A standard axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) dissection was performed. All lymph nodes were first analyzed by HE staining. When all of the SLNs in a patient were negative, the ALNs were subjected to additional HE staining combined with IHC analysis.

RESULTSSLNs were successfully detected and removed in 39 (92.9%) of the 42 patients. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of SLN biopsy were 92.9% (13 in 14), 100% (25 in 25) and 97.4% (38 in 39) respectively. Additional HE staining combined with IHC analysis of the ALNs detected micrometastasis in 3 SLNs (2 cases), but there were no positives in the non-sentinal lymph nodes (NSLNs).

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that lymphoscintigraphy and GDP may be used to detect SLN. Additional HE staining combined with IHC analysis of the ALNs may help predict micrometastasis. Biopsy of SLN may be an accurate method for staging breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Dextrans ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy