Volume of cervical lymph nodes using 3D ultrasonography

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 cm(3) , the volume of the benign nodes from 0.143 to 1.176 cm(3) . Combinations of high positive (>80%) and negative (>90%) predictive values were obtained at a cut-off value of 0.7 cm(3) . 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.