Accuracy of ultrasound in detection of cervical lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to see whether the hilar echogenicity alone is a good criteria for detection of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS : Twenty patients with OSCC ( 14 males and 6 females) , their age 40- 90 years , were examined sonographically, and the number of cervical lymph nodes studied was 112.

Hilar echogenicity alone was used as a criteria to differentiate between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes were evaluated for their echogenic hilus, number, size, site, shape , as well as for necrosis.

The results of US evaluation were compared with histopathologic outcome using unpaired t-test and Fisher’s exact probability test.

RESULTS : Ultrasound examination yielded a sensitivity as 84.09 %, specificity 95.59 %, accuracy 91.07 %, positive predictive value (PPV) 92.5 % , and negative predictive value (NPV) 90.28 %.

CONCLUSIONS.

Sonographic examination have a high accuracy in detecting cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, depending on hilar echogenicity as a diagnostic criteria .