title: Accurate diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Sonazoid.
abstract: Axillary lymph node enlargement following sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is often difficult to accurately diagnose. In keeping with the characteristically tortuous and aberrant pattern of tumor neovasculature, metastatic lymph nodes exhibit peripheral and mixed vascularity, resulting in a microvasculature that is often difficult to visualize. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid, a new generation contrast agent for ultrasonography, allows for the visualization of lymph node microvessels and may enable a more accurate evaluation of lymph node metastasis. This is a case report of axillary lymph node enlargement following SLNB, in which CEUS with Sonazoid resulted in an accurate diagnosis. On the basis of our experience with this case, we have initiated a clinical trial to evaluate the detection of lymph node metastasis through the use of CEUS in breast cancer patients.
authors: Departments of Surgery, Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Fumihiko
authors: F
authors: Matsuzawa
authors: Departments of Surgery, Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Einama
authors: Departments of Surgery, Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Hironori
authors: H
authors: Abe
authors: Departments of Surgery, Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Suzuki
authors: Departments of Surgery, Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Hamaguchi
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Terumi
authors: T
authors: Kaga
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Mami
authors: M
authors: Sato
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Masako
authors: M
authors: Oomura
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Yumiko
authors: Y
authors: Takata
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Ayako
authors: A
authors: Fujibe
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Chie
authors: C
authors: Takeda
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Hokkaido Social Work Association Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Etsuya
authors: E
authors: Tamura
authors: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery I, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan.
authors: Akinobu
authors: A
authors: Taketomi
authors: Departments of Surgery, Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0805.
authors: Kenichi
authors: K
authors: Kyuno
keywords: Sonazoid; lymph node swelling; sentinel lymph node biopsy