Sonography of neck lymph nodes. Part II: abnormal lymph nodes.
Assessment of cervical lymph nodes is essential for patients with head and neck carcinomas, and ultrasound is a useful imaging technique. Sonographic features that help distinguish between the causes of neck lymphadenopathy, including grey scale and Doppler features, are discussed. In addition to the distribution and location of nodes, the useful grey-scale features are: size, shape, internal architecture, intranodal necrosis, absence of hilar structure and calcification. The useful Doppler features are: distribution of vascularity and intranodal resistance. Ancillary features such as oedema of soft tissue and nodal matting are particularly helpful to identify tuberculous nodes.
Ahuja
A
A
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, SAR, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Ying
M
M
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009336:Necrosis; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology