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Quantitative Analysis of Enlarged Cervical Lymph Nodes with Ultrasound Elastography
Jun-Peng Zhang1, Hua-Yan Liu, Chun-Ping Ning
1Department of Ultrasonography, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
Insights
Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) elastography effectively differentiates benign from malignant enlarged cervical lymph nodes. This acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technique provides valuable diagnostic information for lymph node assessment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Diagnostic Ultrasound
- Elastography
Background:
- Enlarged cervical lymph nodes require accurate diagnosis to differentiate benign from malignant conditions.
- Conventional ultrasonography may have limitations in definitively characterizing lymph node pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) elastography using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) for assessing enlarged cervical lymph nodes.
- To compare elastographic parameters between benign and malignant lymph nodes.
Main Methods:
- A study included 56 enlarged cervical lymph nodes with confirmed histopathological diagnoses.
- Patients were categorized into benign (21 cases) and malignant (35 cases) groups.
- Conventional ultrasonography and ARFI-based VTIQ elastography were performed, measuring AREA% and shear wave velocity (SWV).
Main Results:
- Malignant lymph nodes showed significantly higher AREA% (61.3 ± 21.29%) and SWV (4.36 ± 1.25 m/s) compared to benign lymph nodes (AREA% 45.0 ± 17.9%, SWV 2.32 ± 0.57 m/s) (p=0.002).
- AREA% and SWV were significantly different between benign and malignant groups.
- A strong positive correlation was observed between AREA% and SWV (r=0.809, P<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Lymph node stiffness varies with disease type, and elastography can sensitively detect these changes.
- VTIQ elastography provides valuable information for the differential diagnosis of cervical lymph nodes.
- The VTIQ technique demonstrates significant potential in distinguishing benign from malignant lymph node conditions.
Unlabelled:
PURPSOE: To investigate the diagnostic value of quantitative analysis of a tissue diffusion and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) technique with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography for assessing enlarged cervical lymph nodes.
Materials And Methods:
Fifty-six enlarged cervical lymph nodes confirmed by pathologic diagnoses were covered in the study. According to the results of pathologic diagnosis, patients were classified into benign and malignant groups. All the patients were examined by both conventional ultrasonography and elastography. AREA% and shear wave velocity (SWV) in ROI of different groups were calculated and compared using ROC curves. Cut-off points of AREA% and SWV were determined with receiver operating characteristic curves.
Results:
Final histopathological results revealed 21 cases of benign and 35 cases of malignant lymph nodes. The mean values of AREA% and SWV in benign and malignant groups were 45.0 ± 17.9% and 2.32 ± 0.57 m/s, and 61.3 ± 21.29% and 4.36 ± 1.25)m/s, respectively. For the parameters of elastography, "AREA%"and SWV demonstrated significant differences between groups (p=0.002). AREA% was positively correlated with SWV with a correlation coefficient of 0.809 (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
Stiffness of different lymph node diseases in patients may differ. Elastography can evaluate changes sensitively and provide valuable information to doctors. The study proved that the VTIQ elastography technique can play an important role in differential diagnosis of lymph nodes.
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