Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with MRI for cervical hyperplastic, tuberculosis-infected, and metastatic lymph nodes

Xiulei Yu; Wenzhi Zhang; Ning He; Dongming Su; Yang Zhao

doi:10.12669/pjms.39.4.7572

Xiulei Yu
Wenzhi Zhang
Ning He
Dongming Su
Yang Zhao Hangzhou Chest Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7572

Keywords: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, Magnetic resonance imaging, Hyperplastic lymph nodes, Lymph node tuberculosis, Metastatic lymph nodes

Abstract

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cervical abnormal lymph nodes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 150 patients undergoing lymph node examinations at Hangzhou Chest Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019. According to the characteristics of lymph nodes, the patients were divided into three groups: 45 patients had hyperplastic lymph nodes (HLNs; Group-A), 55 had lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB; Group-B), 50 had metastatic lymph nodes (MLN; Group-C). We compared the ultrasonic examination and MRI results between the groups, and compared the diagnostic value of CEUS alone and CEUS plus MRI.

Results: Lower resistance indexes (RI) for Groups-A and B than Group-C(P<0.05). Mixed blood flow type was predominant in Group-A, while the lymphohilum type was predominant in Group-B, and the marginal type was predominant in Group-C(P<0.05). The proportion of non-uniform types in Group-B was significantly higher than that in Groups-A and C(P<0.05). After enhancement, the proportions of non-uniform types in Groups-A and B were higher than Group-C(P<0.05). The results of MRI examination showed that positive reinforcement integral (PEI) and maximum slope of increase (MSI) values increased sequentially from Group-B to Group-A, and then to Group-C(P<0.05); while time to peak (TTP) values increased sequentially from Group-C to Group-A, and then to Group-B(P<0.05). The diagnosis accuracy of CEUS combined with MRI was significantly higher than that of CEUS alone(P<0.05). RI-PEI, RI-MSI, and RI-TTP showed high specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis and differentiation of HLNs, LNTB, and MLNs(P<0.05).

Conclusion: CEUS combined with MRI can significantly facilitate the differential diagnosis between HLNs, LNTB, and MLNs. The two diagnosis methods combined improve the diagnosis accuracy of cervical lymph node diseases.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7572

How to cite this: Yu X, Zhang W, He N, Su D, Zhao Y. Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with MRI for cervical hyperplastic, tuberculosis-infected, and metastatic lymph nodes. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(4):950-955. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7572

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