Value of ultrasound in diagnosis of enlarged cervical lymph nodes

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound in diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodules.Methods Two hundred enlarged cervical lymph nodes in 172 patients were examined by ultrasound,their locations and ultrasonongraphic manifestations were recorded.Results It was confirmed by pathology that there were 112 metastatic lymph nodes,6 lymph nodes caused by non - Hodgkin' s lymphoma,78 reactive lymph node hyperplasia,and 4 lymph nodes caused by tuberculous lymphadenitis among the 200 lymph nodes.Metastatic lymph nodes were mainly distributed in theⅢ,ⅣandⅥareas,while reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes distributed in theⅡarea.There were significant differences in L/S(ratio of long and short axis),medulla,liquefaction,calcification and blood patterns between benign and malignant lymph nodes(P0.05).The sensitivity and specificity of IVS predict malignant lymph nodes were 72.88%and 84.15%,disappear or distortion of medulla were 92.37%and 75.61%,liquefaction were 22.03%and 93.90%,calcification were 39.83%and 93.90%,peripheral and mixed CDFI patterns were 79.46%and 80.49%,respectively.Conclusion There is no specific indicator to diagnose benign and malignant lymph nodes,but L/S2,absence or distortion of mudulla,liquefaction,calcification,peripheral and chaos blood are strong indicators for malignant lymph nodes.