[Cytological diagnosis of lymph nodes by instrumental guide: ultrasonography and CT].

Imaging techniques, such as ultrasound imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, are highly accurate procedures for the detection of lymph node enlargement, but none of them has the same sensitivity in the biological definition and in the cause of enlargement. Therefore, a direct evaluation of corresponding lymph nodes is necessary in most cases and fine needle cytology (FNC) is one of the most frequently used techniques for this purpose. The same imaging procedures are often used to perform targeted biopsies including FNC. This study discusses procedures, indications, advantages and limitations of imaging techniques as a support to FNC.