3D ultrasound examination of the superficial lymph nodes--does it provide additional information?

To compare the appearance of superficial lymph nodes on standard two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound examination and on three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination.

Fifty two lymph nodes (35 cervical, 16 axillary, 1 inguinal) in 52 patients were examined with ultrasound in 3D mode. In standard 2D grey-scale examination and on a C-plane of 3D mode (parallel to the surface of the probe), the shape of a lymph node and its hilum were assessed. Final histopathological diagnoses included 36 lymphomas, 11 reactive or inflammatory lymph nodes, 3 metastases and 2 plasmocytoma infiltrations.

The appearance of hilums and lymph nodes as a whole changed on a C-plane of 3D mode (as compared with 2D presentation) in 28 % and 37 %, respectively. The differences in lymph node shape on 2D and 3D ultrasound were apparent in a comparable percentage of reactive lymph nodes (45 %) and lymphomatous lymph nodes (39 %). The differences in lymph node hilum shape on 2D and 3D ultrasound applied to 56 % of reactive lymph nodes and 20 % of lymphomatous lymph nodes.

Three-dimensional imaging on a C-plane (parallel to the surface of the probe) may supply the examiner with different information concerning the shape of the lymph node and its hilum in comparison to standard 2D ultrasound. Changes in the shapes of hilum and lymph node occurred in reactive or inflamed lymph nodes as well as in lymphomas. Clinical significance of this fact demands further investigation.