[Sonographic pathology of the axilla. Part I].

In comparison with other diagnostic modalities axillary sonography undoubtedly is highly valuable in when examining unclear palpation findings, in the staging of tumours with lymphatic drainage to the axilla and in post-therapeutic screening of cancer patients. Usually pathologic changes of the axilla are due to diseases of the lymph nodes. Infrequently there are soft tissue tumours, inflammations, diffuse changes of the axillary soft tissue, vascular diseases and pathologic findings of the shoulder joint. Provided the most common sonographic features of morphologic changes of the axillary tissues are known, sonography of the axilla is a very important diagnostic tool and is extremely helpful in deciding on further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Part I deals with the pathology of the axillary lymph nodes, whereas in part II pathological changes of the other soft tissues are discussed in detail.