Diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound to cervical relapse of postradiation nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To study the diagnostic value of 2-dimensional(2D) high-frequency ultrasound to cervical relapse of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) after radical radiation.Methods High-frequency ultrasonographic examinations were performed to 52 cervical masses in 40 patients with postradiation nasopharyngeal carcinoma.The control group included 40 postradiation NPC patients with cervical fibrosis and there were 43 fibrous masses.The results were compared to the cytological or histological results within a week.Results The internal echo of the relapsing masses had ultrasonographic characteristics as: nonuniform low level echo,clear bouncary,round or ellipse shape,and fluidity mixing echo if there were colliquation.The internal echo of the fibrous masses had ultrasonographic characteristics as:higher level echo,unclear bouncary,and never with fluidity echo.The accurate rate was similar between high-frequency ultrasound and cytology/histology.Conclusion The cervical relapse of postradiation NPC has special manifestations under 2D high-frequency ultrasound.These characteristics can be important clues when we need to distinguish cervical relapse from fibrosis.