Transcutaneous Ultrasound: Elastographic Lymph Node Evaluation. Current Clinical Applications and Literature Review.

Title

Transcutaneous Ultrasound: Elastographic Lymph Node Evaluation. Current Clinical Applications and Literature Review.

Creator

Chiorean Liliana; Barr Richard G; Braden Barbara; Jenssen Christian; Cui Xin-Wu; Hocke Michael; Schuler Andreas; Dietrich Christoph F

Publisher

Ultrasound in medicine & biology

Date

2016
2016-01

Description

Distinguishing malignant versus benign lymphadenopathies is a major diagnostic dilemma in clinical medicine. Metastatic deposits in normal-sized lymph nodes (LNs) can be smaller than a millimeter, thus presenting a diagnostic challenge. In most clinical settings, however, enlarged LNs detected on imaging need to be classified as malignant or benign. Ultrasound seems to be a very reliable method for LN characterization because of the high resolution, especially in the subcutaneous areas. However, B-mode and Doppler-ultrasound criteria for characterization of a lymphadenopathy as benign or malignant are lacking specificity. Newer methods such as elastography seem to be valuable for identifying metastatic deposits within LNs and may help discriminate malignant and benign LNs. This review summarizes the different elastographic methods available and provides an overview of the relevant publications. According to the literature, elastography can be used for identifying metastatic deposits, to guide fine needle aspiration and to non-invasively choose the most suspicious LN of a group of enlarged LNs for targeted biopsy.

Subject

*Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Elastography; Humans; Imaging; Lymph node; Lymph Nodes – Ultrasonography; Lymph Nodes/*diagnostic imaging; Lymphatic Diseases – Ultrasonography; Lymphatic Diseases/*diagnostic imaging; Scales; Shear wave elastography; Staging; Strain; Ultrasonics; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Pages

16–30

Issue

1

Volume

42

Citation

Chiorean Liliana; Barr Richard G; Braden Barbara; Jenssen Christian; Cui Xin-Wu; Hocke Michael; Schuler Andreas; Dietrich Christoph F, “Transcutaneous Ultrasound: Elastographic Lymph Node Evaluation. Current Clinical Applications and Literature Review.,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed December 9, 2024, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/3804.