Evaluation of metastatic neck disease by computed tomography

This study evaluated the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) scanning in the diagnosis of metastatic neck disease in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx, and compared this modality with physical examination alone. The accuracy of the CT scan was found to be 62%, as compared with a 66% accuracy rate of physical examination. In cases of clinically enlarged lymph nodes, physical examination was found to be 71% accurate; the CT scan, 68% accurate. Both the sensitivity and the positive predictive value of the CT scan were lower than those of the physical examination in this patient population.