Differentiating benign from malignant superficial lymph nodes with sonoelastography.

Dudea, Sorin M.; Botar-Jid, Carolina; Dumitriu, Dana; Vasilescu, Dan; Manole, Simona; Lenghel, Manuela Lavinia

The aim of the paper is to provide a comprehensive overview on the applications of real time sonoelastography (SE) in the diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy. Some technical aspects of performing SE are presented as a preamble. The typical appearance of benign and malignant nodes is illustrated. The paper discusses and depicts the various elastographic scores in use. It also provides a critical appraisal of the relative strain ratio (SR) or stiffness index. Shear wave elastography, as a novel technique, is mentioned. In conclusion, hardness on more than 50% of the node surface or SR > 1.5 is fair to good indicators of malignancy. Work is still needed both to fully understand the various appearance of disease and to standardize the application.

SHEAR waves; LYMPH nodes; LYMPHATICS; IMMUNE system; BODY waves (Seismic waves)

Medical Ultrasonography, 2013, Vol 15, Issue 2, p132

1844-4172

Academic Journal

10.11152/mu.2013.2066.152.smd1cbj2