Vascularity and grey-scale sonographic features of normal cervical lymph nodes: Variations with nodal size

AIM: This study was undertaken to investigate variations in the vascularity and grey-scale sonographic features of cervical lymph nodes with their siz e. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High resolution grey-scale sonography and power Dopp ler sonography were performed in 1133 cervical nodes in 109 volunteers who had a sonographic examination of the neck. Standardized parameters were use d in power Doppler sonography. RESULTS: About 90% of lymph nodes,vith a maximum transverse diameter greate r than 5 mm showed vascularity and an echogenic hilus. Smaller nodes were l ess likely to low vascularity and an echogenic hilus. As the size of the ly mph nodes increased, the intranodal blood flow velocity increased significa ntly(P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant variation in the vascular resistance(P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide a baseline for grey-scale and power Doppl er sonography of normal cervical lymph nodes. Sonologists will find varying vascularity and grey-scale appearances when encountering nodes of differen t sizes. (C) 2001 The Royal College of Radiologists.