The Diagnostic Value Of Gray Scale And Color Doppler Ultrasound In The Cervical Superficial Lymphadenopathy

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound in the cervical superficial lymphadenopathy. Methods: one hundred and seventeen cervical lymph nodes in 91 patients were detected by gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound . These subjects were categorized by pathologic or clinical results: benign group( reactive hypertrophy nodes)and malignant group (Lymphoma and metastatic nodes),The medulla of Lymph nodes areas and total area were measured by path method ,and the Am/At was calculated. The long to transverse dimension ratio,the echogenic of hilus and the blood vessel pattern were observation. ROC curve was used to evaluate the differential diagnosis value of Am/At and other ultrasonographic signs in cervical lymphadenopathy. Agreement was measured with Kappa statistics between ultrasonography signs and pathology. Results: There was significant difference of Am/At between malignant (including Lymphoma and metastatic nodes) and benign( reactive hypertrophy nodes) (P<0.001).The area of Am/At under ROC curves was0.857±0.034.other ultrasonographic signs all have moderate diagnosis value(0.7～0.9).Agreement was moderate for Am/At,The long to transverse dimension ratio,the echogenic of hilus and the blood vessel pattern (0.4≤K﹤0.7). substantial for the combination of gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound (K=0.777). Conclusions: Am/At could be an objective quota reference index for differential diagnosis of the cervical lymphadenopathy by ultrasound, and has great practical value in differential diagnosis. combination of gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound can significantly improved differential diagnostic value of the cervical superficial lymphadenopathy.