Differential diagnosis of lymph node lesions. A semiquantitative approach with power Doppler sonography.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of power Doppler for distinguishing reactive from malignant lymph node disease. METHODS: In a prospective study, 48 untreated patients with palpable cervical lymph node enlargement (n = 211) underwent examination with power Doppler sonography. The perfusion sites were subdivided into three groups: central, peripheral, and hilar perfusion. In addition, the authors qualified the intensity of perfusion using a semiquantitative scale from 0 (no perfusion) to III (high perfusion). Finally, the overall perfused lymph node area was measured and the percentage of perfused nodal area was calculated. RESULTS: Power Doppler sonography showed perfusion in 183 of 211 lymph nodes. Histologic examination revealed 67 reactively enlarged lymph nodes, 72 metastases, and 44 lymphomas. Reactively enlarged lymph nodes showed characteristically intense hilar perfusion (82.1%), whereas nodal metastases exhibited mainly peripherally located flow (84.7%) of grade intensity I to III. Lymph nodes invaded by malignant lymphoma were highly perfused, displaying color signals in the center as well as in the nodal periphery (90.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The perfusion patterns of lymph nodes provide useful additional information in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy.     

Computed tomography of neck lymph nodes involved with malignant lymphoma: comparison with ultrasound.

CT images of 24 patients with head and neck lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed, compared with ultrasonograms, and compared with CT images of 13 patients with lymph node metastases. In nine (38%) of 24 patients, some lymph nodes with lymphomatous involvement showed a spotty or linear pattern of contrast enhancement. In two of these nine patients, a dendritic pattern of contrast enhancement between multiple enlarged lymph nodes was observed. The same pattern appeared as spotty, linear, or dendritic hyperechoic areas on the ultrasonogram. None of 13 patients with lymph node metastases showed a spotty, linear, or dendritic pattern of contrast enhancement. Ten of 13 (77%) showed ring-like contrast enhancement on CE-CT images. The spotty or linear contrast enhancement in enlarged lymph nodes and the dendritic contrast enhancement in confluent lymph nodes could be useful CT findings in diagnosing nodal involvement with malignant lymphoma.     

Magnetic resonance imaging, chest radiography, computed tomography and ultrasonography in malignant lymphoma

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was compared with chest radiography, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) for demonstration of spleen and liver engagement and enlarged lymph nodes in patients with malignant lymphoma. The investigation comprised 24 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 39 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). MRI demonstrated enlarged lymph nodes, distinctly separated from vessels, fat, muscle, liver and occasionally also pancreas without any contrast medium. The distinction between lymph nodes and spleen was, however, poor in the images. In the mediastinum, MRI was superior to chest radiography and had an accuracy similar to that of CT. In the abdomen and the pelvis MRI had slight advantages over CT in detection of enlarged lymph nodes. Compared with US the MRI results were similar in the abdomen and somewhat better in the pelvis. MRI and US were better than CT in revealing HD infiltrates in the spleen. Infiltration of NHL in the spleen was slightly better disclosed at US than at CT and MRI; most of the NHL infiltration, confirmed at histopathology, could, however, not be revealed with any of the modalities, except when the size of the spleen was considered. Regions in the spleen, displayed with low image intensity in the T2 weighted image, were most likely due to increased amount of fibrotic tissue in the lymphomatous lesions. Good demonstration of lymph nodes and lymphomatous lesions in the spleen with MRI required two sequences; one with short TR and TE (T1 weighted image) and one with long TR and TE (T2 weighted image).     

Differentiation of benign from malignant superficial lymphadenopathy: the role of high-resolution US.

Ultrasonography has proved a valuable tool for the detection of enlarged lymph nodes; however, differentiation between benign and malignant nodal disease remains a problem. High-frequency probes with improved spatial and contrast resolution display superficial nodes to advantage and also show the internal structure of the nodes. Ninety-four superficial nodes in patients with suspected nodal disease were examined by using 7.5-MHz probes to evaluate longitudinal-transverse diameter ratio (L/T), the central hilus, cortical widening, and size. Histologic diagnosis was obtained after sonographic examination in 73 nodes (five reactive nodes, 35 primary nodal malignancies, and 33 nodal metastases). The remaining 21 nodes regressed after either antibiotic or no therapy. Marked differences were observed among the proportions of benign and malignant nodes in terms of L/T, hilus, and cortex; the latter two structures, however, must be interpreted together. Eccentric cortical widening was seen in only malignant nodes. The distribution of nodal size was not significantly (P greater than .1) different for benign and malignant nodes. No differences were observed between primary and secondary nodal malignancies. The sonographic criteria evaluated in this study assist in the differentiation of benign from malignant superficial lymph nodes.     

Current status of power Doppler and color Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of lymph node lesions

The use of Power Doppler sonography in nodal diseases provides an improvement of early and noninvasive diagnosis of regional metastatic involvement. By using Power Doppler sonography it is possible to characterize lymph nodes as reactively enlarged, metastases, malignant lymphoma, tuberculosis and to study cervical cysts. The high diagnostic accuracy is based on perfusion-characteristics of these lymph nodes. Reactive lymph nodes show increased central perfusion of the hilum, whereas metastases tend to show increased peripheral perfusion. Affected lymph nodes in patients with by malignant lymphoma are highly perfused in the center but also peripheral. Power Doppler sonography is still not able to discriminate small (<8 mm) nonnecrotic metastasis or micrometastases from reactive lymph nodes. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the current status of power Doppler and Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of lymph nodes.     

Percutaneous core-needle biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes in the diagnosis and subclassification of malignant lymphomas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of percutaneous core-needle biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes in the diagnosis and subclassification of malignant lymphomas. In a 1-year period 158 image-guided percutaneous core-needle biopsies of enlarged lymph nodes were performed on 149 consecutive patients using a Tru-cut needle fired by a biopsy gun. In 135 cases the biopsy findings could be confirmed by histologic examination of additional tissue samples (n = 59) or by correlation with the patient's clinical and radiologic course (n = 76). The final diagnoses were malignant lymphoma in 65 cases, leukemic nodal infiltration in 2, nodal metastases from a solid tumor in 37 and benign changes or no evidence of malignancy in 31 cases. The core-needle biopsies correctly diagnosed 58 of 65 malignant lymphomas, corresponding to a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 97%. Fifty-five of the 58 (95%) correctly diagnosed malignant lymphomas could be subclassified on the basis of the core-needle biopsy. Image-guided core-needle biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes with a Tru-cut needle is a useful method for the diagnosis and subclassification of malignant lymphomas.     

腹部恶性淋巴瘤螺旋CT表现特征

目的 明确腹部恶性淋巴瘤的螺旋CT强化特征，提高影像诊断水平。资料与方法搜集经手术或病理证实的腹部恶性淋巴瘤41例。其中霍奇金病(HD)12例，非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)29例。全部采用Siemens Somatom Plus4螺旋CT机行增强扫描。在CT图像上，观察受累淋巴结的大小、形态、密度以及淋巴结增大的解剖优势分布。结果 累及腹部淋巴结的39例中，75％HD和74％NHL淋巴结增大呈普遍均匀强化密度，25％HD和26％NHL呈均匀强化合并坏死密度。HD和NHL均优势地累及小网膜(38％)、肠系膜(36％)、胰腺周围(41％)、腹主动脉周围上部(79％)及下部(74％)淋巴结。5例胃肠恶性淋巴瘤均示胃肠壁不规则增厚，3例伴淋巴结增大。脾HD中，7例呈均匀密度增大，3例有占位征象，脾NHL中，5例呈均匀密度增大，4例有占位征象。结论 螺旋CT显示的腹部恶性淋巴瘤淋巴结及结外器官病理改变，有利于临床肿瘤的分期及疗效的判定。     

浅表淋巴结病变二维超声显像及多普勒血流检测的临床研究

目的探讨良、恶性浅表肿大淋巴结声像图及多普勒血流参数变化特征,评价超声诊断技术的临床应用价值。方法98例213枚肿大淋巴结分为良、恶性两组,采用高频探头观察肿大淋巴结的形态、大小、内部回声及血流动力学指标。并结合病理,分析不同病因浅表肿大淋巴结的超声特征。结果恶性淋巴结横径、形态更接近圆形,多融合,其周边型血流明显高于良性淋巴结(P<0.05),良性肿大淋巴结血流分支细少,走行规律,呈低阻力;恶性呈高阻力,为不规则扭曲、紊乱血流。结论超声在浅表肿大淋巴结定性诊断中可为临床提供更多诊断信息,为影像学首选诊断方法。     

Evaluation of the efficacy of colour Doppler ultrasound in diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) to differentiate between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes. METHODS: During a period of 12 months, 100 untreated patients with clinical evidence of cervical lymphadenopathy (50 patients with clinically suspected malignant/metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy and 50 patients with clinically suspected reactive/benign cervical lymphadenopathy) were prospectively evaluated with CDUS. CDUS was performed for 168 cervical lymph nodes in these 100 patients. Histopathological confirmations were obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy and/or excisional biopsy. To evaluate the efficacy of CDUS, comparison between clinical features, CDUS features and cytological/histological features of enlarged cervical lymph nodes was then done. RESULTS: Initially, clinical examination evaluated 143 cervical lymph nodes. CDUS evaluation discovered additional 25 lymph nodes (143+25 = 168). Correlation of patterns of colour Doppler flow signals with pathological diagnosis showed that central flow for benign nodes and peripheral flow for malignant nodes were highly significant parameters (P < 0.01). CDUS has a higher specificity than clinical evaluation, being 94.28% and 58.76%, respectively. Accuracy of the CDUS examination was also definitely higher than clinical evaluation at 92.85% and 63.67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nodal vascularity can be used to differentiate benign from malignant lymphadenopathy. Proper judicious CDUS examination provides an opportunity to eliminate the need for biopsy/FNAC in reactive nodes.     

Characterization of lymphadenopathy by magnetic resonance relaxation times: preliminary results

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of magnetic resonance (MR) to enable characterization of disease within lymph nodes and differentiation between benign and malignant lymph nodes. Ninety-three patients were examined. Normal and malignant lymph nodes were excised from seven patients, and the T1 and T2 relaxation times were analyzed in vitro using spectroscopy. In 86 patients, T1 and T2 relaxation times of the lymph nodes were determined from MR images. Spectroscopic analysis revealed an increase in the T1 and T2 values of nodes involved by neoplasm compared with uninvolved nodes in an individual case. Comparison of measurements from 28 lymph nodes analyzed in vitro using spectroscopy showed an overlap of the T1 and T2 values between normal and malignant lymph nodes. T2 relaxation times and relative spin density values were greater for acute inflammatory nodes than for nodes involved by granulomatous diseases (tuberculosis and sarcoidosis) or nodes replaced by lymphoma or metastasis. Changes in T1 relaxation values were not specific. The measurements of T1 and T2 relaxation times and relative spin density showed an overlap between nonspecific lymphadenopathy, nodes involved by granulomatous diseases, and malignant nodes. Differentiation between these various nonacute types of enlarged lymph nodes could not be achieved using current MR parameters.     

CT evaluation of cardiophrenic angle lymph nodes in patients with malignant lymphoma

Two hundred seventy-four computed tomographic (CT) scans of the thorax were obtained in 209 patients with malignant lymphoma (153 Hodgkin disease and 56 non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Fourteen patients (6.6%) were shown to have adenopathy involving the cardiophrenic angle lymph nodes on CT. Of these, only three were considered positive on the basis of chest radiography alone. The anatomy of these diaphragmatic lymph nodes and CT appearance of these nodes when pathologically enlarged are discussed.     

Abdominal CT findings of disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare in AIDS

Disseminated infection from Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) has recently been recognized as a common and serious complication of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The authors report the computed tomographic (CT) findings of 17 patients with AIDS and disseminated MAI referred for abdominal CT examination. Multiple large retroperitoneal and mesenteric lymph nodes were demonstrated in 14 patients (82%). MAI involvement was confirmed within abdominal lymph nodes in six patients by fine-needle percutaneous aspiration (five patients) or postmortem examination (one patient) and within enlarged peripheral lymph nodes in two other patients. The authors concluded that large, bulky, intraabdominal adenopathy in AIDS patients should suggest the diagnosis of MAI infection as well as other known causes of adenopathy, including lymphoma and metastatic Kaposi sarcoma. The authors recommend percutaneous aspiration of enlarged intraabdominal lymph nodes to establish the correct diagnosis.     

Detection and diagnosis of nonpalpable supraclavicular lymph nodes in lung cancer at CT and US.

PURPOSE: To assess frequency and significance of enlarged nonpalpable supraclavicular lymph nodes by using chest computed tomography (CT) and supraclavicular ultrasonography (US) in patients at initial diagnosis of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with no prior malignancy who presented with suspected and subsequently proven lung cancer of any stage or a proven but potentially resectable lung cancer were prospectively selected after chest CT. Chest CT and other radiologic findings were reviewed and tabulated. Standardized US technique was used to identify and guide needle biopsy of enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes (> or =0.5 cm short axis). RESULTS: Twenty-two (40%) of 55 patients had supraclavicular abnormalities detected at CT and/or US. In 18 (82%) of the 22 patients, supraclavicular abnormalities were recognizable at CT. Seventeen of 22 patients had malignant nodes, and five patients had benign nodes (n = 3), a cyst (n = 1), or an indeterminate lesion (n = 1) at US-guided supraclavicular needle sampling. There were no complications. Supraclavicular metastases (31% of patients) were about as common as the combined number of patients with indeterminate (n = 13) and probably or proven malignant (n = 6) adrenal nodules (35% of patients). Supraclavicular metastases were often associated with mediastinal adenopathy or suspected extrapulmonary nonnodal metastases (P <.05). CONCLUSION: In many patients with lung cancer, chest CT that includes the neck base followed by US-guided sampling of enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes is a simple and safe method for simultaneously establishing a tissue diagnosis and tumor nonresectability.     

Adult celiac disease: US signs

PURPOSE: To examine whether distinct ultrasonographic (US) signs exist in patients with adult celiac disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a partly retrospective study, abdominal sonograms were obtained in 11 patients with adult celiac disease. Fifty matched control subjects also were examined. After the patients had fasted overnight, they were examined with 2-4-MHz abdominal and high-frequency 5-10-MHz linear-array US transducers. RESULTS: The authors found several US pathologic signs in patients with untreated disease, including abnormal fluid-filled small intestine in all 11 patients, flaccid and moderately dilated small-bowel loops (2.5-3.5 cm) in eight, slight diffuse thickening of the small-bowel wall (3-5 mm) in seven, increased peristalsis of the small intestine in eight, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes (anteroposterior diameter 5-10 mm) in nine, dilated caliber of the superior mesenteric artery or portal vein in seven, free fluid in the abdominal cavity in five, and increased echogenicity of the liver in six. None of these signs was present in the control group. CONCLUSION: There are several US signs associated with adult celiac disease. None of the signs identified is specific, but a combination of signs is characteristic and indicates suspicion of this disease in a high percentage of cases. US could help to avoid diagnostic delay, especially in patients who have atypical clinical presentations.     

In vivo tracing of indium-111 oxine-labeled human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with lymphatic malignancies

The in vivo migration of [111In]oxine-labeled peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) was studied in 20 patients with various lymphatic malignancies and palpable enlarged lymph nodes. The maximal labeling dose of 10 microCi (0.37 MBq) [111In]oxine/10(8) PMNC was found not to adversely influence either cell viability or lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. For in vivo studies, 1.5 X 10(9) PMNC were gained by lymphapheresis and reinjected intravenously after radioactive labeling, 150 microCi (5.55 MBq). The labeling of enlarged palpable lymph nodes was achieved in three out of three patients with Hodgkin's disease and in five out of five with high-malignant lymphoma, whereas three out of seven patients with low malignant lymphoma and no patient with chronic lymphatic leukemia had positive lymph node imaging. We thus conclude that PMNC retain their ability to migrate after [111In]oxine labeling and that these cells traffic to involved lymph nodes of some, but not all hematologic malignancies.     

Lymphoscintigraphy with 99mTc-DTPA-HSA: detection of metastases to iliopelvic lymph nodes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate 99mTc-DTPA-HSA as an iliopelvic lymphoscintigraphic agent in 5 normal volunteers and 10 patients with metastases of malignant tumors (cancer, 9; and malignant lymphoma, 1) to the iliopelvic lymph nodes. The subjects underwent intradermal injection of 185 MBq of 99mTc-DTPA-HSA into digital web spaces of the feet. Massage was applied at the injection sites for 30 sec; the subjects then walked around for 2 min. Whole-body scintigrams were obtained 5 min after injection. The whole-body scanning speed was 20 cm/min. The tracer transport was prompt. Within 15 min after injection, the tracer reached the termination of the thoracic duct in all normal volunteers. Normal whole-body images of excellent quality delineated the lymph nodes and channels almost without background radioactivity. The images of 9 patients with metastases of cancer showed clearly the following abnormal patterns: a) obstruction of lymphatic system (5/9, 55.6%); b) absence of visualization of the thoracic duct (44.4%); c) decreased uptake in lymph nodes (88.9%); d) visualization of collateral circulation (44.4%); e) tracer extravasation into more proximal soft tissue (22.2%). The image in the patient with malignant lymphoma showed increased uptake in the enlarged lymph nodes in addition to the all abnormal findings mentioned above. We concluded that 99mTc-DTPA-HSA is an excellent radiopharmaceutical for iliopelvic lymphoscintigraphy.     

Supraclavicular lymph node metastases in carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction: assessment with CT, US, and US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy

The preoperative assessment of supraclavicular lymph node metastases was prospectively studied in 100 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. Findings at computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), and palpation were compared, and US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of nodes with a small axis of 5 mm or greater was performed. Supraclavicular metastases were detected on CT scans in 11 of 13 patients (85%) and on US scans in 14 of 16 patients (88%) but were palpable in only three of the 16 patients (19%). The predictive value of a supraclavicular node indicating metastases was .74 at US and .85 at CT. Metastases were diagnosed in 10 of 46 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (22%) and five of 50 patients (10%) with adenocarcinoma. Nodes with metastases had a round configuration, with a statistically significant greater short-axis to long-axis ratio than that of benign nodes (0.89 vs 0.54; P = .05). In four of 16 patients (25%) with supraclavicular metastases proved with cytologic examination, neither CT nor US of the mediastinum and abdomen showed enlarged nodes.     

CT定位经纤维支气管镜纵隔淋巴结针吸活检术的价值

目的 为明确纵隔淋巴结肿大的性质,进行CT定位经纤维支气管镜纵隔淋巴结针吸活检术（CT－guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy,CT-TBNA)的研究。方法 根据纵隔淋巴结分区定位标准,对原发性肺癌（54例）伴纵隔淋巴结肿大、恶性淋巴瘤（5例）、纵隔脓肿（3例）、炎性淋巴结肿大（11例）共73例158枚纵隔肿大 淋巴结行CT－TBNA穿刺活检。结果 CT扫描证实穿刺针在全部158枚淋巴结内,其中86％（136／158）的淋巴结抽吸物经病理检查获得了病理组织学和（或）细胞学诊断,未发生严重并发症。结论 CT－TBNA的标准是可靠的,穿刺操作安全有效,对确定纵隔淋巴结肿大性质和肿瘤分期有重要意义。     

Efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma at first presentation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the accuracy and reliability of CT-guided percutaneous biopsy as an alternative to surgical biopsy in a selected population of patients without superficial enlarged lymph nodes and a final diagnosis of malignant lymphoma at first presentation. METHODS: The results of 145 CT-guided needle biopsies in 137 patients with malignant lymphoma at its first presentation and without superficial enlarged lymph nodes were analyzed retrospectively. Biopsies were performed in 24 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 113 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Factors such as patient's sex, age, type of lymphoma and biopsy site were evaluated to detect factors that could influence the success rate of the procedure. RESULTS: Biopsy specimens were diagnostic in 101 of the 113 patients with NHL and in 18 of the 24 patients with HD. Repeating of a previously nondiagnostic biopsy was successful in 7 out of 13 patients with NHL. No positive results were obtained, repeating the inconclusive biopsy in six patients with HD. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that percutaneous CT-guided biopsy is a useful and reliable tool in the diagnosis and classification of malignant lymphomas in patients without superficial lymphadenopathy and can be considered as an alternative to surgical sampling. However, little advantages were obtained, repeating previously inconclusive biopsies: In these cases, surgical sampling is mandatory.     

Parasternal sonography of the internal mammary lymphatics in breast cancer: CT correlation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of parasternal ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing internal mammary lymph node metastases in breast cancer, an important site of occult metastases, adversely affecting the disease-free interval and long-term survival. Thirty-five patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer were examined for internal mammarian lymph node (IMLN) involvement with parasternal US, and results were correlated with computed tomography (CT). Longitudinal and transverse images of the first through sixth parasternal rib interspaces were evaluated with a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer. The enlarged nodes were demonstrated as discrete, spherical or ovoid hypoechoic lesions in six cases with parasternal US, and corresponding CT scans confirmed the presence of lymphadenopathy. Our results suggest that parasternal US may be helpful in the evaluation of IMLN metastases in breast cancer as a part of staging the disease.