CT findings of cervical lymphadenopathy: differential diagnosis

To evaluate the characteristics of CT findings in differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy. We evaluated CT findings of histopathologically proved 32 cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis, 12 cases of nodal lymphoma, 29 cases of metastasis from March 1986 to Dec 1992, retrospectively. We analyzed age and sex distribution, location of lymphadenopathy, internal nodal density, feature of contrast enhancement, extracapsular spread and nodal calcification. Tuberculous lymphadenitis was more preponderant in young female (mean; 32) and CT showed internal low density(91%) with irregular thick marginal enhancement(46.9%), predilection for spinal accessory node(71.9%), and nodal calcification(5/32). Nodal lymphoma showed predilection for internal jugular chain(100%) and had conglomerated homogeneous internal node structure(83%). Metastasis showed old male preponderance (mean; 52 years), predilected at internal jugular chain(89.7%), internal low density(93.3%) with regular thin marginal enhancement(44.8%), extracapsular spread(41.4%), and nodal calcification(2 cases of nodal metastasis of papillary type thyroid cancer). We concluded that CT evaluation of the characteristics of lymphadenopathy is helpful for differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy