The role of ceus in characterization of superficial lymph nodes : a single center prospective study

// Giorgio de Stefano 1 , Umberto Scognamiglio 1 , Filomena Di Martino 2 , Roberto Parrella 3 , Francesco Scarano 3 , Giuseppe Signoriello 4 and Nunzia Farella 1 1 UOC Malattie Infettive ad Indrizzo Ecointerventistico -AORN dei Colli, Naples, Italy 2 UOC Infezioni Sistemiche e dell’ Immunodepresso -AORN dei Colli, Naples, Italy 3 UOC Malattie Infettive ad Indirizzo Respiratorio -AORN dei Colli, Naples, Italy 4 SUN Napoli- Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Servizio Statistica Medica, Naples, Italy Correspondence to: Giorgio de Stefano, email: // Keywords : CEUS, lymph nodes, contras enhanced ultrasound, metastases Received : March 16, 2016 Accepted : May 05, 2016 Published : May 15, 2016 Abstract Accurate lymph node characterization is important in a large number of clinical settings. We evaluated the usefulness of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing between benign and malignant lymph nodes compared with conventional ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy. We present our experience for 111 patients enrolled in a single center. 111 superficial lymph nodes were selected and only 1 lymph node per patient underwent CEUS. A definitive diagnosis for all lymph nodes was obtained by ultrasonographically guided biopsy and/or excision biopsy. The size of the lymph nodes, the site (neck, axilla, inguinal region) being easily accessible for biopsy, and the US and color Doppler US characteristics guided us in selecting the nodes to be evaluated by CEUS. In our study we identified different enhancement patterns in benign and malignant lymph nodes, with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy for superficial lymphadenopathy in comparison with conventional US.