title: Cervical lymphadenopathy: ratio of long- to short-axis diameter as a predictor of malignancy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate short- and long-axis diameters of enlarged cervical lymph nodes with ultrasonography and to determine whether the long-to-short axis (l/s) ratio is a valid diagnostic parameter in the differentiation between benign and malignant nodal disease. 730 enlarged cervical lymph nodes in 285 patients were examined with ultrasound. The short- and the long-axis diameters of each enlarged node were measured and the l/s ratio calculated. Definite diagnoses of the nodes were obtained by histological examination following neck dissection. 95% of enlarged cervical nodes shown on ultrasound to have a l/s ratio of more than 2 were correctly diagnosed as benign. Nodes presenting with a more circular shape and a l/s ratio of less than 2 were diagnosed correctly as metastases with 95% accuracy. The l/s ratio of lymph nodes thus provides an excellent criterion for differentiation between benign and malignant enlargement in cervical lymphadenopathy.
authors.affiliation: Strahlenklinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Steinkamp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornehl
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosten
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pegios
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Felix
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010173:Palpation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography