[CT evaluation of malignant tumors of upper cervical lymph nodes invading the carotid sheath].
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.
Shi
Hui-min
HM
Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Wang
Ping-zhong
PZ
Yu
Qiang
Q
Luo
Ji-cheng
JC
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