Volume of cervical lymph nodes using 3D ultrasonography. Differentiation of metastatic from reactive lymphadenopathy in primary head and neck malignancy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usefulness of volume measurement using 3D US for depicting metastatic cervical lymph nodes.


METHODS
Thirty-five cervical lymph nodes in 13 patients with primary head and neck malignancy were included in this study. US with volume acquisition was prospectively performed with a 5-10 MHz linear mechanical volume probe. Volume measurement of the node was calculated using a 3D automatic volume calculation program. The excised nodes matched on US were examined histopathologically.


RESULTS
The volume of malignant nodes ranged from 0.444 to 4.442 cm3, the volume of the benign nodes from 0.143 to 1.176 cm3. Combinations of high positive (>80%) and negative (>90%) predictive values were obtained at a cut-off value of 0.7 cm3.


CONCLUSIONS
Volume measurement of cervical nodes using 3D US can be a useful tool for differentiating metastatic from benign nodes in patients with primary head and neck malignancy.
Kim
H-C
HC
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Han
M H
MH
Do
K-H
KH
Kim
K H
KH
Choi
H J
HJ
Kim
A Y
AY
Sung
M W
MW
Chang
K-H
KH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014463:Ultrasonography