SONOGRAPHY IN TUMOR AFTERCARE IN HEAD AND NECK TUMOR PATIENTS

The ranking of postoperative sonography is examined in respect of imag ing of neck lymph node enlargement and neck lymph node metastases or l ymphomas, using a prospective study involving 119 patients whose head and neck tumours had already undergone treatment. These patients had b een subjected to tumour aftercare for an average period of 26 months. The resulting quotient values (M/Q-Quotient) and the transverse and lo ng axis lengths, respectively, were used as diagnostic criteria for su spicion of malignancy. A cervical lymph node with an M/Q-Quotient grea ter than two ruled out a metastasis with 94% accuracy. A quotient of l ess than two confirmed the presence of a metastasis with 92% accuracy. In comparison, evaluation using the transverse axis method ruled out metastasis in 92% of the cases, with a sensivity of only 83%. The pres ence of sonomorphological criteria as a highly medullary reflex at the centre of the lymph node or excentric widening of cortex improves dia gnostic safety.