[Spiral CT: differential diagnosis of cervical swelling. Initial clinical results]

Spiral CT examinations were performed pretherapeutically in 27 patients in whom cervical lymph node enlargement had been suspected. The M/Q quotient known from sonography and MR can also be employed in CT by means of coronary and sagittal reconstruction. This improves CT differentiation between reactively changed and metastatically infiltrated lymph nodes in tumour patients. Hence, CT diagnosis can now make use of a highly sensitive and highly specific criterion for diagnosing lymph nodes. Another diagnostic improvement is that vascular infiltrations by lymph node metastases can now be visualised or excluded more readily. Spiral CT is also suitable in tumorous and non-tumorous processes for an accurate assessment of the extension of e.g. retropharyngeal abscesses or laryngoceles.