[Ultrasound and CT evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis of oral cancer].

Abstract

A comparison of the results of clinical diagnosis and ultrasound (US) and CT examinations was carried out in 43 patients who underwent radical neck dissection. We examined the site, size, depth and other features of lymph nodes which were unable to be detected by physical examination. US and CT proved superior to conventional clinical examination in detecting metastatic nodes. US and CT revealed that the disease in seven necks (12%) was not N1 but N2b, while in six of nine necks it changed from N0 to N positive. The features of metastatic lymph nodes on US and CT were clarified, and it was found that the detection of cervical metastatic nodes by a combination of US and CT is the most reliable method for assessing metastasis from tumors of the oral cavity.