Clinical Application Value Of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography In Diagnosis Of Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Objective:The purpose of this study was to find the features of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in cervical lymphadenopathy and evaluate the value. Methods:138 enlarged cervical lymph nodes in 83 patients were studied by CEUS.Analysed the enhancement patterns in each lymph nodes,while the time-intensity curves were evaluated by using contrast quantification software.Results: Of the 138 lymph nodes examined, 23 were tuberculous, 38 were non-specific inflammation,48 were metastasis and 29 were lymphoma.They were confirmed by pathological examination.CEUS showed intense homogeneous enhancement with well-defined hiar artery in most benign lymph nodes(32/38,84.2%); intense homogeneous enhancement,absence of hiar artery in most lymphoma(25/29,86.2%)( P < 0.01);while inhomogeneous enhancement in most tuberculous and metastases(14/23,60.9%;25/48,52.1%)( P < 0.01).The quantitative analysis by Q-LAB software showed the rise time and time to peak in the non-specific inflammation lymph nodes grop and lymphoma grop were lower than those in tuberculous lymph nodes grop(P<0.01);the rise time in the metastasis lymph nodes grop were lower than those in tuberculous lymph nodes grop(P<0.008).The sensitivity 、specificity of CEUS were 76.6%, 65.3%. Conclusion: The CEUS showed perfusion patterns and features in different cervical lymphadenopathy,and supply further useful information.