Abstract
From June, 1987 to February, 1988, 100 patients with primary lung cancer, who were admitted to the National Cancer Center Hospital for surgical treatment, underwent neck ultrasound examination for preoperative evaluation of cervical lymph node metastases.
Lymph nodes were visualized in 24 patients by this examination. The characteristic ultrasonographic finding of metastatic lymph nodes was well defined, thickened, fused, lobulated and hypoechoic. Nineteen of the 100 patients had ultrasonographically suspected cervical lymph node metastases. Eight (9.6%) of 83 patients for whom thoracotomy was planned had ultrasonographically suspected cervical lymph node metastases and in 4 of these 8 metastases were found in the lymph nodes. Of the 98 patients without palpable cervical lymph nodes 17 had ultrasonographically suspected cervical lymph node metastases.
These results show that about 10% of thoracotomies might not be indicated. If Daniels' biopsy is employed for patients in whom ultrasound examination shows possible cervical lymph node metastases, the staging of lung cancer in those without palpable cervical lymph nodes is more efficient and accurate.
