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| MRI for evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathy |
| HU Hai-jing1, HUANG Biao2, LI Chun-fang1, LI Liang1, ZHANG Ying-he1 |
| 1. Department of Radiology, the People’s Hospital of Nanhai District of Foshan City, Foshan Guangdong 528000, China;2. Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, China |
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Abstract Objective: To evaluate MRI features in cervical lymphadenopathy. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with cervical lymphadenopathy underwent both plain and enhanced MRI. Fat-suppression imaging was routinely performed using the chemical shift imaging(CSI) and fat saturation(FS) technique. Morphological features and signal intensity characteristics of MRI were analyzed and compared with pathological results. Results: Diagnosis was verified by pathology. Twenty cases had cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis, 33 had malignant lymph node metastasis and 11 had malignant lymphoma. MRI detected round lymph nodes (with the long axis/short axis<2) in 45 cases(8 with tuberculosis, 28 with malignant metastasis and 9 with lymphoma), and oval lymph nodes(with the long axis/short axis>2) in 19 cases(12 with tuberculosis, 5 with malignant metastasis and 2 with lymphoma). Thirty-five cases manifested with necrotic focus locating in the centre of the lymph node revealed in T1WI and T2WI and thin-walled rim enhancement revealed in T1WI(6 with tuberculosis, 27 with malignant metastasis and 9 with lymphomas). Ill defined margin of the lymph node and invasion of adjacent adipose tissue were found in 35 cases(5 with tuberculosis, 28 with malignant metastasis and 2 with lymphoma). Nine cases with lymphoma showed homogeneous signal intensity on MRI. Conclusion: MRI is significant in the evaluation of enlarged cervical lymph nodes. It is an important examination in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cervical lymphoadenopathy.
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Received: 17 May 2005
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2006, Vol. 17 
