Abstract

Role of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Ultrasound Elastography in the Assessment of Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Cervical lymphadenopathy is a common clinical problem across all age groups. There are many causes of lymph node enlargement; cause may vary from infective, reactive, neoplastic, drug induced and many more. Cervical lymphadenopathy often appears as the first clinical sign to an underlying malignancy or infection of head and neck.

Material and methods: A hospital based prospective study was conducted in the department of Radiodiagnosis, Hamdard Institute of Medical Science and Research, New Delhi over a period of one year from April 2021 to May 2022.

Results: A total of 80 patients with clinical diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy were included in the study. High resolution ultrasonography and elastography using ARFI imaging was done in all cases. Pathological correlation was done in all cases. Of total 80 patients, 41 lymph nodes were benign while 39 were malignant on FNAC/biopsy correlation.

Discussion: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of ARFI acoustic radio focus imaging in characterizing and differentiating benign verses malignant cervical lymph nodes and to determine the accuracy of diagnosis.

Conclusion: USG elastography (ARFI) is promising new technique that noninvasively and objectively complement the ultrasonography in characterization and differentiation of benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.

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