Abstract:
Objective To explore the diagnostic value of double quantitative analysis for benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes by PET/ CT.
Methods A total of 82 patients with lymphadenectasis of the neck were enrolled in this retrospective study.They were examined by 18F-FDG PET / CT during the period between April 2005 and September 2011 CT, PET, and the combined PET / CT images of the patients were respectively reviewed.Pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard, and data of the maximum standard uptake value(SUVmax) and information for CT short diameter in the cervical lymph nodes were analyzed.The receiver operating curves curve based on the SUVmax and short diameter data of cervical lymph nodes was performed to find the most accurate cut-off point.The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of CT.PET, and PET/CT were calculated, respectively.Statistical analysis of the results was performed.
Results When a cervical lymph node with a short diameter of≥0.65 cm and SUVmax of≥1.95 was diagnosed as malignant, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET / CT were 79.30%.94.52%. 95.15%, 77.09%, and 85.76%, respectively, in detecting the benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.The accuracy of PET / CT was significantly better compared with that of CT or PET scans in determining benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.
Conclusion The accuracy of PET / CT is better than that of CT or PET in diagnosing the benign or malignant cervical lymph nodes.If a cervical lymph node has a short diameter of≥0.65 cm and a SUVmax of≥1.95, it can be possibly diagnosed as the malignant lesion.