Hj. Steinkamp et al., SPIRAL CT FOR CERVICAL LYMPH-NODE ENLARGE MENT - EARLY CLINICAL-RESULTS, RoFo. Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der neuenbildgebenden Verfahren, 160(6), 1994, pp. 500-505
Spiral CT was performed before treatment in 35 patients with suspected
cervical lymph node enlargement. By coronary and sagittal reconstruct
ion it is possible to utilise the M/Q quotient which has become accept
ed as the result of sonographic and MRI examinations. It is now possib
le to obtain high diagnostic accuracy (97 %) for distinguishing betwee
n reactive change from metastatic infiltration of lymph nodes (> 8 mm)
by using CT. Using spiral CT with 5 mm table movement, three patients
diagnosed as stage Nl by axial CT were shown to be N2b. This represen
ts a highly sensitive and highly specific method of lymph node diagnos
is. Further diagnostic improvement derives from the ability to relate
the lymph nodes to surrounding tissues. Spiral CT is also suitable for
defining other space occupying lesions, e. g., the exact extent of re
tropharyngeal abscesses, abnormalities of the salivary glands or laryn
gocoeles.