Ultrasonic detection of lymph nodes in stomach cancer: around celiac axis

From January 1987 to December 1989, we did ultasound examination for lymph nodes (LNs) around the celiac axisin 159 patients of stomach cancer. And surgically removed LNs were correlated with sonographic result andpathologic confirmation for metastasis. The celiac axis as a landmark for location of LN was identified in 87%(138/159). On ultasonic examination, 77 LNs were detected around the celiac axis from 62 patients, however noLN was detected from the remaining 97 patients. In detail, the ouputs of pathologic correlation are; sensitivity=80%(35/44), specificity-77%(88/115), overall accuracy-77%. When the size criteria was designated as diameters of 10, 15 and 20mm, sensitivity was 89%, 68%,and 39%, whereas the speicficity was 55%, 79%, and 97% resectively. Onthe analysis of LNs according to their sized, LNs with diameter of above 15mm were significant for diagnosis of LNmetastasis(p value<0.0005). On the analysis of LNs according to their shapes.LN with notched or lobulated marginwas more significant than LN with discreter round margin, especially when diameter of LN was below 15mm. Howeverthe shape of LN played not so big role, when diameter of LN was above 15mm.