Volume of cervical lymph nodes using 3D ultrasonography. Differentiation of metastatic from reactive lymphadenopathy in primary head and neck malignancy.

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of volume measurement using 3D US for depicting metastatic cervical lymph nodes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five cervical lymph nodes in 13 patients with primary head and neck malignancy were included in this study. US with volume acquisition was prospectively performed with a 5-10 MHz linear mechanical volume probe. Volume measurement of the node was calculated using a 3D automatic volume calculation program. The excised nodes matched on US were examined histopathologically.
RESULTS: The volume of malignant nodes ranged from 0.444 to 4.442 cm3, the volume of the benign nodes from 0.143 to 1.176 cm3. Combinations of high positive (>80%) and negative (>90%) predictive values were obtained at a cut-off value of 0.7 cm3.
CONCLUSION: Volume measurement of cervical nodes using 3D US can be a useful tool for differentiating metastatic from benign nodes in patients with primary head and neck malignancy.