Value Of The Quantitative Analysis Of Ultrasound Elastography In Assessment Of Enlarged Cervical Lymph Nodes

Objective To explore the value of quantitative analysis of tissue diffusion and ARFI elastography in assessing enlarged cervical lymph nodes.Methods 55 enlarged cervical lymph nodes confirmed by pathologic diagnosis were selected in the study. According to the results of pathologic diagnosis, patients were classified into four groups:the metastasis group,the lymphoma group,the T.B group, the nonspecific lymphadenitis group. All the patients were examined by both conventional ultrasonography and elastography. The values of AREA% and SWV in ROI was calculated and then compared among different groups. Relationship between AREA% and the results of pathologic of lymph nodes were also studied.Results Final histology revealed 20 cases of metastatic lymph nodes,15 cases of lymphoma,8 cases of tuberculosis and 12 cases of nonspecific lymphadenitis. In four sub-groups, mean value of strain ratios(SR)、AREA%、SWV were 4.90±1.48、 2.89±0.96、2.88±0.98、1.78±0.58,(70.00±17.86)%、(50.49±14.24)%、(48.88±15.35)%、(32.53±14.21)%, 4.36±1.25(m/s)、3.35±0.76(m/s)、3.62±0.93(m/s)、1.98±0.57(m/s) respectively.For the parametres of elastography,SR、“area%”demonstrated significant differences among groups(r=0.67、p=0.002).“area%”、SWV demonstrated significant differences among groups(r=0.79、p=0.002).Conclusion Stiffness of different lymph node diseases in patients are different among different groups. Ultrasound elastography could evaluate these changes sensitively and provide valuable information to diagnose abnormal lymph nodes.