AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:To study and differentiate neoplastic (Malignant) and nonneoplastic (Reactive and tubercular)cervical lymph nodes by High resolution ultrasonography. To correlate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound with FNAC in differentiating neoplastic (malignant) and nonneoplastic (reactive and tubercular) cervical lymphadenopathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data was collected from a total of 100 cases referred for ultrasound of neck to the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Sri R. L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Center over a period of 24 months from January 2012 to January 2014, with 5-10 MH linear transducer using SEIMENS G 40/G 50/ Acuson Ax 300 ultrasound equipment. Lymph nodes were assessed using grey scale and colour Doppler parameters like: nodal level and site, size, shape, L/S ratio, border, hilum, echotexture, necrosis, matting and angioarchitecture [hilar vessels, capsular vessels (peripheral) and mixed flow]. A provisional diagnosis was suggested after the ultrasound examination and these findings were correlated with Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology/ Histopathological findings. RESULTS: In our study out of 45 non neoplastic nodes (reactive and tubercular) only 41 nodes were identified as nonneoplastic (reactive/ tubercular) on ultrasound prior to FNAC/ histopathology. Out of 55 possible neoplastic (malignant nodes) detected on ultrasound only 46 lymph nodes turned out to be neoplastic on FNAC/ histopathology. Lymph node with oval shape (L/S ratio > 2) echogenic hilum, homogenous echotexture and hilar vascularity were considered as significant parameters in detecting non-neoplastic (reactive) lymph nodes, which showed matting with soft tissue edema were considered nonneoplastic lymphnodes (Tubercular lymphnodes). Nodes which were Round shape (L/S ratio < 2), absent hilum, heterogeneous echotexture, hilar, capsular vessels and mixed vascularity were considered as significant parameters in detecting neoplastic (malignant) lymph nodes. Correlation of sonographic findings with Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology/ Histopathological findings was performed. Sensitivity and Specificity of ultrasound in differentiating neoplastic from non-neoplastic cervical lymphadenopathy was found to be 90% and 74% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that: 1) High resolution ultrasonographic examination proved as a valuable primary investigation to identify lymph nodes and differentiate nonneoplastic and neoplastic lymphadenopathy. 2) Combination of ultrasonographic features with vascular pattern of the lymph nodes have a high sensitivity, specificity in differentiating neoplastic and non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy.

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A 40 year old lady presented with complete loss of vision in one eye and loss of perception of light in other eye since a year. Initially it was associated with constant headache without vomiting for around 3 months. Indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed chronic pale disc edema and dilated and severe tortuous blood vessels. MRI of the brain showed abnormal dilated tortuous vessels in the left temporal region communicating between basal vein and straight sinus. There was absence of flow voids in both sigmoid sinuses. MRI angiography revealed a small feeding artery to the right transverse sinus from posterior branch of middle meningeal artery. Findings suggestive of chronic raised Intra Cranial Tension were very evident. MRI and MRI angiography revealed a rare occurrence of dural arteriovenous malformation with isolated ocular symptoms and thus cerebral AV malformations with bilateral post papilloedemic optic atrophy was diagnosed.

Jarcho-Levin syndrome (JLS) is a rare heterogeneous disorder characterised by short neck, short trunk and multiple vertebral and rib anomalies. Sprengel shoulder deformity is elevation of shoulder joint due to upward displacement of scapula. We are reporting a case of Jarcho-Levin syndrome associated with Sprengel deformity.

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been increasingly used in treating breast cancers. Because breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, it is important to effectively monitor the tumor response to assist in tailoring treatments to response. In our early study, we have introduced a novel ultrasound (US)-guided diffused light imaging in the near infrared (NIR) spectrum to monitor tumor vascular changes which correlated to tumor response. The objectives of this study are: (a) to validate the initial findings with a larger patient pool, and (b) to assess vascular changes at every treatment cycle and to correlate early vascular changes with the tumor pathological response. Methods: 33 patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment were recruited from Dec. 2007 to May 2011 and their tumor vascular content was assessed with a combined imager consisting of a commercial US system coupled to a NIR imager. Patients were imaged before their treatment, at the end of each treatment cycle and before their surgery. The co-registered US was used to localize the tumor and the NIR imager was used to map the tumor vascular distribution which was assessed based on a percentage total hemoglobin (%tHb) concentration normalized to the pre-treatment level. 18 patients were treated with AC followed by Taxol. This group of patients was monitored every two weeks at the end of each treatment. The remaining patients were on 3-week cycles of chemotherapy and monitored every 3 weeks. 6 patients were treated with TC without Adriamycin (TC), or with Adriamycin (TAC), 6 HER2 positive patients were treated with TC and Herceptin (TCH); and 3 patients were treated with AC/Bevacizumab. Pathologic response was graded based on Miller and Payne system as grade 1: non-responders (A); grades 2 and 3: partial responders (B); 4: near-complete and 5: complete responders (C). Results: In the AC/Taxol group (n=18), there were 5 responders (C), 9 partial (B) and 4 non-responders (A). The statistical significance based on %tHb between groups A and C was achieved at the end of cycle 5 and the rest of the treatment cycles (p&lt;0.05), however, the statistical significance between A and B was only obtained at end of cycle 5 (p&lt;0.05) and not maintained for cycles 6–8. The statistical significance between B and C was only achieved at the end the treatment (p&lt;0.05). For the TC,TAC and TCH group (n=12), there were 6 responders(C) and 6 partial responders (B). The statistical significance between these two groups was achieved at the end of cycle 3 and the rest of the treatment cycles (p&lt;0.05). For the 3 patients who were treated with AC/Bevacizumab, 2 patients achieved complete response and one partial with grade 2. The complete responders had more than 50% reduction in %tHb at the end of cycles 3–4; while the partial one showed only 10–15% reduction during the entire treatment course. Discussion: Our findings indicate that tumor vascular changes assessed by %tHb can be used to predict the tumor pathological response. This is a powerful tool to help predict responsiveness to therapy. Interestingly, dramatic and early responses were noted in the patients who received the biologic agents (bevacizumab and herceptin) and this may be very valuable in following responses using these agents. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-10-02.