[Clinical value of multidetector computed tomography in detecting lymph node metastasis of early gastric cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) as a pre-operative staging tool for detecting lymph node metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC).


METHODS
In 77 consecutive patients with EGC, lymph node metastasis was assessed pre-operatively with MDCT at a slice thickness of 2.5 - 5.0 mm (n=24) or 7.5 - 10.0 mm (n =53).


RESULTS
Overall accuracy of detecting NO to N3 lymph node was 74.0% for MDCT and 54.5% for operative assessment. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in detecting lymph node metastasis was 75. 0%, 65.0%, 30.0% and 92.9% with 2.5 - 5.0 mm MDCT image, which was 62.5%, 82.2%, 38.5% and 92.5% by 7.5 - 10.0 mm MDCT image, whereas it was only 45.5%, 63.6%, 17.2% and 87.2% by operative assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-operative assessment by multidetector CT may have a high accuracy in detecting lymph node metastasis for patients with early gastric cancer.
Ren
Gang
G
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. rengang527@163.com
Cai
Rong
R
Chen
Ke-Min
KM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*