title: Characteristics of cervical computed tomography findings in kawasaki disease: a single-center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to characterize cervical computed tomography (CT) findings in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients that may facilitate early diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed cervical CT images of 78 children with cervical lymphadenopathy to analyze the distribution and morphology of lymphadenopathy and other soft-tissue findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with KD. Fifty had other diseases (non-KD). Retropharyngeal edema was observed in 82% (23/28) of KD and 30% (15/50) of non-KD (P < 0.01) cases. Retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy was observed in 89% (25/28) of KD and 48% (24/50) of non-KD (P < 0.01) cases. Levels III and IV lymphadenopathy was found in only 1 KD case, whereas levels III and IV lymphadenopathy was found in 58% (29/50) (P < 0.01) and 36% (18/50) (P < 0.01) of non-KD cases, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy and retropharyngeal edema are relatively common features of KD on CT. Given the potentially serious complications of KD, this diagnosis is an important consideration in a young child presenting with these imaging findings.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, and Departments of †Radiology and ‡Pediatrics, Gunma General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taketomi-Takahashi
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsushima
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*