Diagnostic Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Parametric Imaging Combined with
Time-Intensity Curve in Benign and Malignant Cervical Lymph Node Diseases
Abstract：Objective To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parametric imaging (PI) combined with timeintensity
curve (TIC) in benign and malignant cervical lymph node diseases. Methods The clinical data of 120 patients with cervical
lymph node diseases diagnosed by puncture biopsy in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. All of them were examined by
contrast-enhanced ultrasound PI and TIC before biopsy. The evaluation of differences in the characteristics of benign and malignant
lymph nodes was based on pathological results. The diagnostic efficacy of two methods individually and in combination was
evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results PI analysis showed that the benign lymph nodes were
mostly centrifugal perfusion and enhancement uniformity, while the malignant lymph nodes were mostly centripetal perfusion,
uneven enhancement with unclear boundaries of the defect area, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The TIC
analysis showed that the lymph nodes in the malignant group had a longer peak time and a slower slope of decline than those in the
benign group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The sensitivity of PI combined with TIC in distinguishing
benign and malignant lymph nodes was 91.0%, the specificity was 83.0% and area under the ROC curve was 0.870, respectively.
Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasound PI combined with TIC can improve the sensitivity and specificity in the differential
diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph nodes.
