DIAGNOSTIC-ACCURACY OF SONOGRAPHIC CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF CERVICAL LYMPHADENOPATHY

Although ultrasonographic criteria for abnormal nodes are used routine ly in the evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathy, the diagnostic accur acy of these criteria in different areas has not been documented. This study evaluated 977 normal cervical nodes from 80 normal subjects and 1419 abnormal cervical nodes from 277 patients with proven cervical l ymphadenopathy. The diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, pos itive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy) of si ze, shape (short axis to long axis ratio), echogenic hilus, and nodal border for regional lymph nodes are evaluated and discussed.