Role of color doppler ultrasonography in differentiating Benign and malignant cervical lymphadenopathy – one year Hospital based cross sectional study

Abstract

Background & objectives “Lymphadenopathy” is defined as an abnormality in size and / or alteration in consistency of the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are frequently enlarged in various regional and systemic diseases and sometimes may be the only clinical finding or one of the several nonspecific findings. Cervical region as the major site involved with Tuberculosis being the most prevalent of all (45%) followed by reactive lymphadenitis 27%, non specific lymphadenitis 16% and metastatic 9%. Ultrasound is a useful imaging tool for the initial evaluation of cervical lymph nodes because it has high sensitivity (98%) and specificity (95%), particularly when combined with fine needle aspiration cytology. It will characterize the lymph nodes in accordance with the morphologic criteria like size, shape, margins, discrete or matted, presence of fatty hilum. Ultrasound with color Doppler can help in differentiation of benign and malignant lymph nodes have been well described in literature. Differentiation of benign and malignant lymph nodes without Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC)/ biopsy is difficult, but crucial for patient management. Therefore, non-invasive imaging tools that can facilitate in differentiation of benign and malignant nodes are required. It will characterize the lymph nodes in accordance with the central, peripheral or mixed vascularity and resistive index. This study mainly focuses on role of Ultrasound with color Doppler in differentiation of benign and malignant lymph nodes to minimize patients going for discomforting invasive procedures like FNAC/Biopsy