Dual Energy CT Imaging in Diagnosis of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastatic Lymph Nodes and Lymph Node Tuberculosis / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

PurposeTo explore the significance of dual energy CT in differential diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma metastatic lymph nodes and lymph node tuberculosis in the neck.Material and Methods Twenty-five patients with a total of 62 cervical enlarged lymph nodes confirmed with squamous cell carcinoma metastasis or lymph node tuberculosis by pathology underwent dual energy enhanced CT scan. Iodine coverage value of two different kinds of pathological properties of lymph nodes was measured. The trend of the spectrum curve was observed and the energy spectrum curve slope of two kinds of lymph nodes were compared. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of energy spectrum curve slope in differential diagnosis were analyzed. Results Of all 62 lymph nodes, there were 32 squamous cell carcinoma metastatic lymph nodes and 30 lymph node tuberculosis. There were statistic significance in the iodine coverage between the squamous cell carcinoma metastatic lymph nodes and lymph node tuberculosis (t=3.806 and 3.698,P<0.05). In the range from 60 keV to 180 keV, CT value of the two kinds of lymph nodes decreased with increase of keV value. It showed the higher the keV value the less CT value decreased, with the energy spectrum curve of drop type. The area of the iodine coverage was 0.756 with the differential diagnostic sensitivity of 56% and the specificity of 80%. The area of energy spectrum curve slope was 0.898 with the differential diagnostic sensitivity of 76% and the specificity of 85%.Conclusion The iodine coverage value and the energy spectrum curve slope have significance in differential diagnosis of the cervical squamous cell carcinoma metastatic lymph nodes and lymph node tuberculosis. The energy spectrum curve slope is superior to the iodine coverage value in differential diagnosis.