Enlarged lymph nodes of the neck: evaluation with parallel extended field-of-view sonographic sequences.
A standardized extended field-of-view sonographic examination technique of the neck is evaluated. In a prospective study we screened 50 patients suspected of having carcinoma or lymphoma for enlarged cervical lymph nodes. After conventional CT of the neck, extended field-of-view sonography was performed using defined axial parallel scanning sequences. The results were interpreted separately by two radiologists. Of 245 lymph nodes (diameter 1 cm or greater) diagnosed with conventional CT, 218 were correctly identified by extended field-of-view ultrasonography. With respect to the entire neck, the sensitivity of extended field-of-view sonography was 92%, and the correlation coefficient between the methods was r = 0.98 (P < 0.001). Fifteen of 17 false-negative lymph nodes were located in the mandibular angle region. False-positive results (N = 10) were caused by misinterpretation of primary tumors, blood vessels, lobulated salivary glands, and double imaged lymph nodes. Our results indicate that extended field-of-view sonography in parallel scanning sequences represents a reliable method for the detection of cervical lymphadenopathy.
Beissert
M
M
Department of Radiology, University Würzburg, Germany.
Jenett
M
M
Wetzler
T
T
Hinterseher
I
I
Kessler
C
C
Hahn
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods