Transabdominal ultrasonography in preoperative staging of gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of transabdominal ultrasonography (US) in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer.


METHODS
A total of 198 patients with gastric cancer underwent preoperatively transabdominal US, depth of tumor infiltration was assessed in 125 patients, and lymph node metastasis was assessed in 106 patients.


RESULTS
The staging accuracy of transabdominal US was 55.6%, 75.0%, 87.3% and 71.1% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 carcinomas, respectively. The overall accuracy was 77.6%. The detection rate for pancreatic invasion and liver invasion was 77.4%, 71.4%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of transabdominal US in assessment of lymph node metastasis were 77.6%, 64.1%, 72.6%, respectively. Various shapes such as round, ovoid, spindle were encountered in benign and malignant lymph nodes. Majority of both benign and malignant lymph nodes were hyperechoic and had a distinct border. Benign lymph nodes were smaller than malignant lymph nodes in length and width (P = 0.000, 0.005). Irregular shape, fusional shape, infiltrative signs, inhomogenous echo were seen mainly in malignant lymph nodes (P = 0.045, 0.006, 0.027, 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Transabdominal US is useful for preoperative staging in gastric cancer, although it is difficult to differentiate benign from malignant lymph nodes.
Liao
Sheng-Ri
SR
Department of Ultrasonography, School of Oncology, Peking University, Beijing 10036, China.
Dai
Ying
Y
Huo
Ling
L
Yan
Kun
K
Zhang
Lin
L
Zhang
Hui
H
Gao
Wen
W
Chen
Min-Hua
MH
D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography