Objective:

To explore the value of multi-modal ultrasound in diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Method:

A total of 108 cervical swollen lymph nodes from 82 NPC patients were selected. They were examined by conventional ultrasound

strain elastography (SE) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)

and were divided into metastatic

group and non-metastatic group according to the pathological results. The zoning characteristics

conventional ultrasound characteristics

SE scores and CEUS characteristics of each group were analyzed. And the diagnostic efficacy of conventional ultrasound

SE

CEUS and multi-modal ultrasound combined diagnosis in diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis of NPC were evaluated.

Results:

① There were significant differences between the metastatic group and the non-metastatic group in lymph nodes anatomical regions

internal echo

blood flow types

SE scores

CEUS perfusion pattern

enhancement uniformity

enhancement intensity

and whether there were lymphatic hilum

calcification

necrosis

and perfusion defects (all

P

＜0.05). ② The sensitivity of conventional ultrasound

SE

CEUS and multi-modal ultrasound combined diagnosis was 79.7%、83.1%、93.2% and 94.9%

respectively; the specificity was 67.3%

57.1%

77.6% and 87.8%

respectively; and the accuracy was 74.1%

71.3%

86.1% and 91.7%

respectively. The sensitivity

specificity and accuracy of the multi-modal ultrasound combined diagnosis were all higher than that of the single examination method.

Conclusion:

Multi-modal ultrasound has a good diagnostic efficacy in differentiating benign and malignant lymph nodes of NPC. It can provide a more reliable imaging basis for the diagnosis of NPC cervical lymph node metastasis.