Journal
DIAGNOSTICS
Volume 12, Issue 8, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12081842
Keywords
CEUS; shear wave elastography; perfusion; neck metastases; superficial lymph nodes
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study aimed to evaluate the application value of multiparametric ultrasound in the baseline characteristics of suspected cervical lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer before induction chemotherapy or chemoradiation. The results showed that multiparametric ultrasound can classify suspected lymph node metastasis more accurately and improve the monitoring of subsequent treatment.
Background: We aimed to evaluate multiparametric ultrasound, to achieve a better understanding of the baseline characteristics of suspected cervical lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer before induction chemotherapy or chemoradiation. Methods: From February 2020 to April 2021, our complete ultrasound examination protocol was carried out on clinically evident malignant lymph nodes of histologically proven HNSCC in the pre-therapeutic setting. Results: A total of 13 patients were eligible for analysis. Using elastography, irregular clear hardening in areas in the center of the lymph node could be detected in all cases. Elastographic Q-analysis showed a significantly softer cortex compared to the center and surrounding tissue. The time-intensity curve analysis showed high values for the area under the curve and a short time-to-peak (fast wash-in) in all cases compared to the surrounding tissue. A parametric evaluation of contrast enhanced the ultrasound in the early arterial phase and showed an irregular enhancement from the margin in almost all investigated lymph nodes. These results show that the implementation of comprehensive, multiparametric ultrasound is suitable for classifying suspected lymph node metastasis more precisely than conventional ultrasound alone in the pre-therapeutic setting of HNSCC. Thus, these parameters may be used for improvements in the re-staging after chemoradiation or neoadjuvant therapy monitoring, respectively.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available