Diagnostic accuracy of color doppler ultrasonography in evaluation of cervical lymph nodes in oral cancer patients.

Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of color doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in differentiating metastatic from reactive lymph nodes in oral cancer patients.
Material and Methods: Study comprised 80 adult subjects with oral cancer, divided in two groups based on clinical criteria. Group I included 40 patients with clinically suspected metastatic cervical lymph nodes, Group II included 40 patients with clinically suspected reactive cervical lymph nodes. Study population was evaluated with CDUS for color flow signals and intranodal vascular resistance (Pulsatility Index and Resistivity Index), followed by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, used as a standard, to confirm the etiology of the lymph node enlargement.
Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-Square Test (SPSS 15.0 version) was used to evaluate the significance of the parameters used between the two study groups.
Results: Sensitivity of CDUS by vascular flow pattern was 94.1%, specificity of 100%, with accuracy of 95.4% and by vascular indices the sensitivity was 81.4%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 85.5%, with statistically significant correlation.(P < 0.05)
Conclusion: CDUS plays a definitive role as an adjunct to clinical evaluation of differentiating metastatic from reactive cervical lymph involvement in patients with oral cancer as it aid in grading and staging of oral cancer and can determine the treatment plan prognosis and morbidity by diminishing the possibility nodal dissection.