Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efficiency of three-dimensional Doppler ultrasonography in assessing nodal metastasis of head and neck cancer

  • Head and Neck
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler ultrasonography with a novel predictive model in the detection of cervical metastasis of untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. We assessed cervical lymph node metastasis in 52 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients by 3D color Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography. Pathologic analysis was used as the gold standard for evaluation of these imaging modalities. The rate of correct N staging was 84.6 % on ultrasonography, 55.8 % on magnetic resonance imaging, and 71.2 % on positron emission tomography/computed tomography. On a level-by-level basis, the ultrasonography had 78.9 % sensitivity, 99.0 % specificity, 93.8 % positive predictive value, 96.0 % negative predictive value, and 95.7 % accuracy. It also showed the highest agreement to histology results as compared with magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (kappa value = 0.832, 0.506, and 0.537, respectively). 3D Doppler ultrasonography with our prediction model provides a rapid, low-cost, noninvasive, and reliable method with low inter-observation variations for detecting neck metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brown AE, Langdon JD (1995) Management of oral cancer. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 77:404–408

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Annual Report of Cancer Registry (2010) Department of Health, Executive Yuan

  3. Layland MK, Sessions DG, Lenox J (2005) The influence of lymph node metastasis in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx: N0 versus N+. Laryngoscope 115:629–639

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. van den Brekel MW, Castelijns JA, Stel HV, Golding RP, Meyer CJ, Snow GB (1993) Modern imaging techniques and ultrasound-guided aspiration cytology for the assessment of neck node metastases: a prospective comparative study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 250:11–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. de Bondt RB, Nelemans PJ, Hofman PA et al (2007) Detection of lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis comparing US, USgFNAC, CT, and MR imaging. Eur J Radiol 64:266–272

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Yamazaki Y, Saitoh M, Notani K et al (2008) Assessment of cervical lymph node metastases using FDG-PET in patients with head and neck cancer. Ann Nucl Med 22:177–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Yoon DY, Hwang HS, Chang SK et al (2009) CT, MR, US, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and their combined use for the assessment of cervical lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Eur Radiol 19:634–642

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Civantos FJ, Stoeckli SJ, Takes RP et al (2010) What is the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of oral cancer in 2010? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 267:839–844

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Liao LJ, Lo WC, Hsu WJ, Wang CT, Lai MS (2012) Detection of cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck cancer patients with clinically N0 neck-a meta-analysis comparing different imaging modalities. BMC Cancer 12:236

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lai YS, Kuo CY, Chen MK, Chen HC (2013) 3-D Doppler ultrasonography in assessing nodal metastases and staging of head and neck cancer. Laryngoscope 123:3037–3042

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Landis JR, Koch GG (1977) The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics 33(1):159–617

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Som PM (1992) Detection of metastasis in cervical lymph nodes: CT and MR criteria and differential diagnosis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 158:961–969

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Richards PS, Peacock TE (2007) The role of ultrasound in the detection of cervical lymph node metastases in clinically N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Imaging 7:167–178

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Madison MT, Remley KB, Latchaw RE (1994) Mitchell SL Radiologic diagnosis and staging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Radiol Clin North Am 32:163–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ng SH, Yen TC, Liao CT et al (2006) Prospective study of [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography and magnetic resonanceimaging in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with palpably negative neck. J Clin Oncol 24:4371–4376

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ng SH, Yen TC, Liao CT et al (2005) 18 F-FDG PET and CT/MRI in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective study of 124 patients with histologic correlation. J Nucl Med 46:1136–1143

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Don DM, Anzai Y, Lufkin RB, Fu YS, Calcaterra TC (1995) Evaluation of cervical lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Laryngoscope 105:669–674

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lonneux M, Hamoir M, Reychler H et al (2010) Positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose improves staging and patient management in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter prospective study. J Clin Oncol 28:1190–1195

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Nakasone Y, Inoue T, Oriuchi N, Takeuchi K, Negishi A, Endo K, Mogi K (2001) The role of whole-body FDG-PET in preoperative assessment of tumor staging in oral cancers. Ann Nucl Med 15:505–512

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kyzas PA, Evangelou E, Denaxa-Kyza D, Ioannidis JPA (2008) 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to evaluate cervical node metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst 100:712–720

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Stoeckli SJ, Haerle SK, Strobel K, Haile SR, Hany TF, Schuknecht B (2012) Initial staging of the neck in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a comparison of CT, PET/CT, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Head Neck 34:469–476

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Borgemeester MC, van den Brekel MWM, van Tinteren H et al (2008) Ultrasound-guided aspiration cytology for the assessment of the clinically N0 neck: factors influencing its accuracy. Head Neck 30:1505–1513

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wu CH, Lee MM, Huang KC, Ko JY, Sheen TS, Hsieh FJ (2000) A probability prediction rule for malignant cervical lymphadenopathy using sonography. Head Neck 22:223–228

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanxiao St, Changhua City, Changhua County, 500, Taiwan

    San-Fu Hong, Yu-Shih Lai & Mu-Kuan Chen

  2. Department of Medical Image, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

    Kwo-Whei Lee

  3. Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Mu-Kuan Chen

Authors
  1. San-Fu Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu-Shih Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kwo-Whei Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mu-Kuan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mu-Kuan Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hong, SF., Lai, YS., Lee, KW. et al. Efficiency of three-dimensional Doppler ultrasonography in assessing nodal metastasis of head and neck cancer. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272, 2985–2991 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3256-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3256-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation