Value of ultrasound elastography in assessment of enlarged cervical lymph nodes.

BACKGROUND:

To investigate the value of ultrasound elastography (UE) in the differentiation between benign and malignant enlarged cervical lymph nodes (LNs).

METHODS:

B-mode ultrasound, power Doppler imaging and UE were examined to determine LN characteristics. Two kinds of methods, 4 scores of elastographic classification and a strain ratio (SR) were used to evaluate the ultrasound elastograms.

RESULTS:

The cutoff point of SR had high utility in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant of cervical lymph nodes, with good sensitivity, specificity and accuracy.

CONCLUSION:

UE is an important aid in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical LNs.