Diagnostic Procedures for Detection of Lymph Node Metastases in Cancer of the Larynx

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the larynx. One of the most important influences on prognosis is the presence of metastases to the cervical lymph nodes. Accurate determination of lymph node involvement is therefore a prerequisite for individualized therapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Clinical palpation of the neck is not very accurate and the role of imaging techniques such as ultrasound, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology, color Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography is being applied in order to improve upon the results of clinical investigation alone. According to our investigations and review of the literature, the accuracy of computed tomography scanning (84.9%) and magnetic resonance imaging (85%) was superior to palpation (69.7%) and ultrasound (72.7%). Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology showed an accuracy of 89% and was in the same range with positron emission tomography (90.5%).

Development and characterization of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a cisplatin-bearing polymer coating for targeted drug delivery

“…9,[14][15][16][17][18][19] Particularly in terms of lymph node detection, SPIONs when used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging offer a considerable improvement over other imaging techniques. 20,21 SPIONs have a large surface area to volume ratio, so tend to agglomerate in order to reduce their surface energy. 22 To prevent this behavior, stabilization agents consisting of single molecules or polymers have to be used.…”

Value of Ultrasound Elastography in Assessment of Enlarged Cervical Lymph Nodes

“…Overall, it can be divided into benign and malignant enlargement. It is very important for the subsequent diagnosis and treatment to make sure the LNs are malignant or not (Kau et al, 2000;Senchenkov and Staren, 2004;Li and Chen, 2012).…”

Efficacy of diagnostic upper node evaluation during (salvage) laryngectomy for supraglottic carcinoma

“…Several preoperative imaging techniques can be used to stage the neck; however, all examinations have limitations in identifying occult lymph node metastases in the neck. [1][2][3][4] In 15% to 44%, bilateral lymph node metastases are detected in a preoperative clinically N0 neck (cN0). 5,6 This percentage, higher than what is seen in glottic squamous cell carcinoma patients, can be explained by the fact that the supraglottis is embryologically a midline structure with a rich lymphatic supply.…”