Contrast-Enhanced Color Doppler Sonography for Evaluation of Enlarged Cervical Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Tumors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. We determined whether contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography can differentiate benign from malignant enlarged cervical lymph nodes in head and neck tumors.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Ninety-four enlarged lymph nodes in 39 adult patients (32 men and seven women; age range, 30-81 years) were examined with B-mode sonography and with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography. All patients had carcinoma of the oral cavity. Histologically, lymphadenitis was found in 57 nodes and metastases in 37 nodes. Geometric dimension, texture, and margin of the node and detection and location of vessels were noted. Histology and imaging findings were correlated.RESULTS. The transverse-to-longitudinal diameter ratio in combination with texture and margin analysis resulted in a correct diagnosis in only approximately 79% of the nodes. With contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography, 86% of nodes showed vessels, and 28% of nodes showed vessels with this technique exclusively. Characteristic configurat...