Radiotherapy efficacy of E-Flow imaging on cervical lymph nodes metastasized from nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of E-Flow imaging on the radiotherapy of cervical lymph nodes metastasized from nasopharyngeal carcinoma.


METHODS
A total of 52 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with 94 invasion neck lymph nodes were treated with conventional radiotherapy. Lymph node size, hemodynamic parameters, and blood supply were detected by E-Flow imaging and two-dimensional ultrasound before and after the radiotherapy. The relationship between those examinations and radiotherapy effect was analyzed.


RESULTS
Of the 94 metastatic cervical lymph nodes from nasopharyngeal carcinoma before the radiotherapy, 40 disappeared, 52 reduced, and 2 maintained the original size after the radiotherapy. Blood flow in all residual lymph nodes decreased or disappeared. Artery flow spectrum in the lymph node was changed from the high-speed high impedance to low-speed low resistance. The size of cervical lymph node and blood flow before the radiotherapy were associated with clinical efficacy (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
E-Flow imaging plays an important role in assessing the efficacy of radiation therapy by changing the blood supply of cervical lymph node and its size before and after the radiotherapy.
Liu
Haifeng
H
Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Xiao
Jidong
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009333:Neck; D014463:Ultrasonography