Evaluation of Ultrasonography and Colour Doppler in Cervical Lymphadenopathy Taking Histopathology as Comparison

BACKGROUND Grey scale ultrasonography can be used as a first line imaging modality along with histopathology for evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathy. Morphologic features like size, shape, hilum and necrosis within the lymph node and vascularity are analysed. We wanted to identify the role of Grey scale ultrasonography and colour Doppler in characterisation of enlarged cervical lymph nodes, evaluate findings in benign and malignant cervical lymphadenopathy and assess the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, likelihood ratios and accuracy in malignant and benign cervical lymph node enlargement. METHODS This was a cross sectional study with diagnostic test evaluation. All suspected cases of cervical lymphadenopathy referred for sonological evaluation to the Department of Radiodiagnosis of Govt. T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha were included in the study. About 75 patients included in the study, underwent Grey scale and colour Doppler sonography of cervical lymphadenopathy. RESULTS When three criteria were positive for malignancy, the sensitivity and specificity of grey scale ultrasonography and colour Doppler were 100 % and 73.80 %, and when four criteria were positive, the sensitivity and specificity were 72.73 %, and 90.48 % respectively. When we analysed individual variables, status of hilum (absence / presence) has reasonably good sensitivity and specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy (90.09 %, 92.90 %, 90.09 %, 92.90 % and 92.0 % respectively). In our study the important criteria positive for malignant lymph nodes were size > / 11 mm in short axis diameter, round shape, absent hilum and peripheral and central + peripheral type of vascularity of cervical lymph nodes. For benign lymph nodes, oval shape, presence of hilum and central vascularity were the important criteria noted. CONCLUSIONS Grey scale ultrasonography can be complemented by colour Doppler ultrasonography (USG) in patients presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions by reducing unnecessary biopsies by more accurate discrimination. KEY WORDS Grey Scale Ultrasonography, Malignant, Benign Lymph Nodes, Histopathology