[Extracapsular spread of cervical lymph node metastases: Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging].
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of the value of magnetic resonance tomography in the determination of extracapsular neoplastic spread and soft tissue infiltration of cervical lymph nodes.


METHODS
The results of magnetic resonance tomographies of 110 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the head-neck region were prospectively compared with the findings of the histologic examination after neck dissection.


RESULTS
Magnetic resonance tomography reaches a specificity of 72.2 % in the detection of extracapsular neoplastic spread. The sensitivity of the method is 74.4 %. Mainly small (less than 1 cm; n = 11) extracapsular growth was not detected and was diagnosed false-negative in the MRI examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
The specificity (72.2 %) and sensitivity (74.4 %) of MRI examinations to detect extracapsular spread of lymph nodes is only partially satisfying.
Steinkamp
H J
HJ
Universitätsklinikum Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Germany.
Beck
A
A
Werk
M
M
Felix
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology