ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the ultrasound imaging characteristics of thyroid papillary carcinoma complicated cervical lymph node tuberculosis, and to elucidate the key points of ultrasound diagnosis and to distinguish with cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods In total, 1 5 well-documented cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed definitely were selected, and there were 6 cases of concomitant lymph node metastasis. The ultrasonography of lymph node enlargement was analyzed, and the differences of the ultrasonographic characteristics between lymph node tuberculosis and metastatic lymph node including the location, swelling, calcification, blood flow and regional nodal liquefaction. Results Thyroid papillary carcinoma complicated with cervical lymph node tuberculosis was often found in the areas of Ⅲ,Ⅳ and Ⅴ, especially in the area of Ⅴ. Variety of echo was mixed in tuberculous of lymph node, and the echo was inhomogenous. The tuberculosis of lymph node calcification was patchy inhomogeneous distribution.The echo in part of liquefaction of lymph node tuberculosis was cottony weak. The flow signal of tuberculous lymph appeared the surrounding or internal punctate distribution,and the soft tissue was echogenic and disorder around the lymph node tuberculosis. Conclusion When ultrasonography examination is performed in the patients with the thyroid papillary carcinoma complicated with cervical lymph node enlargement, the history should be considered to analyze the ultrasound characteristics to dignose by observing the lesions of the surrounding soft tissues.