Extracapsular neoplastic spread of cervical lymph node metastasis: Diagnostic value of computed tomography.

Objective: To assess the Value of computed tomography in the determination of extracapsular neoplastic spread and soft tissue infiltration of cervical lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: Prospectively 165 CT reports of patien ts with squamous cell carcinoma in the head-neck region were compared with the histologic specimens after neck dissection. Results: CT reached a sensi tivity of 80.9% in the determination of extracapsular neoplastic spread. Th e infiltration of cervical muscles and the jugular vein was always determin ed but often diagnosed false-positive. Therefore, the overall specificity i n determining extracapsular neoplastic spread was low with 72.7%. Conclusio ns: The accuracy of computed tomography (76.3%) in the determination of ext racapsular neoplastic spread, infiltration of cervical muscles and the jugu lar vein is only partially satisfying.