Differentiation of metastatic from benign lymph nodes by spectrum analysis in vitro

Knowledge of the presence of metastatic cancer in lymph nodes is required for prognosis and treatment decisions. Current imaging methods do not allow accurate determination of lymph-node status. The authors' in vitro studies of spectrum analysis methods of assessing node status in lymph nodes indicate that spectrum analysis may offer excellent means of determining whether cancer is present. ROC curve areas based on spectrum analysis are 0.98 to 0.99 in the case of axillary lymph nodes and 0.92 to 0.95 in the case of abdominal lymph nodes. B-mode methods produce ROC curve areas of 0.88 to 0.90 in the case of axillary nodes and 0.84 in the case of abdominal nodes. Therefore, spectrum-analysis methods may aid management of a broad range of cancers.