title: [CT evaluation of malignant tumors of upper cervical lymph nodes invading the carotid sheath].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to evaluate the CT findings of malignant tumors of upper cervical lymph nodes invading the carotid sheath.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven patients (83 lesions) with malignant tumors in the upper cervical lymph nodes shown on CT scans were collected. All lesions were certificated with pathological examination by operation or biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CT manifestations of malignant tumors of upper cervical lymph nodes invading the carotid sheath included :(1) compression and deformation of vessels in the carotid sheath in 52 lesions (ICA, one lesions; ICV, 51 lesions); (2) disappearance of vessels in the carotid sheath (ICV, 13 lesions); (3) displacement of vessels of the carotid sheath in 67 lesions (ICA, 22 lesions; ICV, 50 lesions); and (4) malignant tumors encompassing the carotid sheath in 15 lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On CT images, the most common form of malignant lymph node lesions invading the carotid sheath is displacement of ICA and ICV. It is concluded that all forms of affecting carotid sheath demonstrating on the CT images are important in diagnosing the malignant invasion of the ICA and ICV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Hui-min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ping-zhong
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ji-cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed