Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of conventional ultrasonography for characterization of axillary lymph nodes with histological findings.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of conventional ultrasonography for characterization of axillary lymph nodes. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Radiology, Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: 1^st of October 2022 to 31^st of March 2023. Material & Methods: A total number of 145 female patients above the age of 18 years who reported with mastalgia and diagnosed clinically with the presence of suspicious axillary lymph nodes were included in the study. The conventional ultrasonic evaluation index was used for characterization. The ultrasonological results of characterization of axillary lymph nodes were compared with histopathological results where results of histopathology were taken as gold standard. Results: The Mean±SD of age in this study was 44.15±8.42 years with an age range of 29-62 years. The Mean±SD of duration of complaints was 10.17±5.60 months. USG diagnosed 89 (61.37%) patients while histopathology diagnosed 92 (63.44%) patients with metastasis of ALN. USG showed sensitivity of 86.957%, specificity 83.019%, diagnostic accuracy 86%, PPV 89.888% and NPV 78.571% in diagnosis of metastasis of axillary lymph nodes (p < 0.000). Conclusion: Conventional USG is a commonly available and affordable diagnostic tool which is useful with a good accuracy for characterization of axillary lymph nodes and detecting the metastasis.