DECODING THE APPLICATION OF GRAYSCALE ULTRASOUND, COLOUR DOPPLER AND ULTRASOUND ELASTOGRAPHY IN EVALUATION OF AXILIARY LYMPH NODE IN SUBJECTS DIAGNOSED WITH PRIMARY BREAST CANCER.

Introduction: The axillary lymph nodes are the most prevalent location of breast cancer metastases. One of the most important and dependable prognostic variables for individuals with breast cancer is the presence of axillary lymph nodes. It's critical to distinguish benign axillary lymph nodes from malignant ones as soon as possible in order to enhance survival and outcomes and avoid treatable lesions from becoming incurable. Aims: In this study, axillary lymph nodes in women with breast cancer were evaluated by strain wave elastography, colour doppler, and greyscale ultrasonography, and their histologic correlation was examined. The current study also examined the specificity, sensitivity, negative and positive predictive values, and combination of elastography and greyscale ultrasound results with greyscale ultrasound results. Methods: Following a histopathology-based diagnosis of carcinoma in the breast, 68 individuals had their axillary lymph nodes evaluated for vascularity, shape, size, hilum presence or absence, cortical thickness, fatty hilum thickness ratio (C/F ratio), long/short axis ratio (L/S ratio), and elastography. Results: The diagnosis was established, and histology supported it. Increased C/F ratio, decreased L/S ratio, increased cortical thickness, eccentric/compressed or missing hilum, irregular nodular borders, and round shape in morphology were observed to be favourable factors for malignancy. Based on the resistivity index, vascular flow pattern type, and peak systolic/end-diastolic velocity/ratio, benign and malignant lymph nodes were distinguished. The mean strain ratio was greater in malignant lymph nodes than in benign lymph nodes. Conclusions: Because ultrasound is accurate, easily accessible, radiation-free, and reasonably priced, it should be routinely included in the initial screening of subjects with breast carcinoma. This includes strain elastography, colour Doppler, and greyscale ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]