[Comparison of palpation, ultrasound and computed tomography in the valuation of lymphatic neck metastasis].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the diagnostic value of palpation, ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT) in detecting neck metastasis in head and neck cancers.


METHODS
The study included 35 patients (34 men, 1 woman; mean age 59 years; range 35 to 72 years) with laryngeal carcinoma. In addition to neck palpation, 17 patients and 27 patients had neck examinations by US and CT, respectively. Histopathologic results of the neck specimens were compared with those obtained from palpation, US, and CT.


RESULTS
The accuracy of CT, US, and palpation in the evaluation of lymph nodes of the neck were 85%, 65%, and 80%, respectively. Ultrasonography was found to have the highest sensitivity (100%), but the least specificity (33%). The highest false positive and false negative results were obtained by US (42%) and palpation (10%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed tomography proved superior to palpation and US in the evaluation of neck metastasis in patients with head and neck tumors.
Sişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi, II. KBB Kliniği, I. Radyoloji Kliniği, Istanbul. Turkey. u_cinar@yahoo.com
Uğur
U
Cinar
Ozgür
O
Yiğit
Ebru
E
Topuz
Gökhan
G
Akgül
Murat
M
Unlü
Muzaffer
M
Başak
Irfan
I
Celebi
Burhan
B
Dadaş
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards