title: Computed tomographic evaluation of lymph node metastasis in head and neck carcinomas.
abstract: A retrospective study of 53 patients was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of computer tomography (CT) in the detection of nodal metastases from carcinomas of the head and neck. The CT findings of 53 patients with head and neck carcinomas who underwent a total of 57 neck dissections were compared with the findings of physical examination (PE) and histopathological examination. Using node size larger than 10 mm in the short-axis diameter or the presence of central lucency as the criteria of nodal metastasis CT scanning staged correctly 52 of 57 necks, providing an accuracy of 91%, a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 100% in the detection of nodal metastases. There was agreement of PE findings with histology in 43 (74%) of 57 necks, with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 38%, respectively. Because CT scanning was superior to PE in the pre-operative staging of head and neck carcinomas, it should be used for pre-operative evaluation of metastatic neck disease.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Niigata University, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shingaki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed