Diagnostic accuracy and additional value of diffusion-weighted imaging for discrimination of malignant cervical lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction The aim was to determine the diagnostic accuracy and additional value of diffusion-weighted imaging for detection of malignant lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Two hundred nineteen lymph nodes, predominantly smaller than 10 mm (95.4%), in 16 consecutive patients were evaluated at 1.5 T. Lymph nodes were evaluated for maximum short axial diameter, morphological criteria, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values ( b = 0 and b = 1,000 s/mm 2 ). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) and areas under the curves (AUCs) of ROC curves were calculated for the various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria individually and in combination. Histological examination of lymph nodes in the neck dissection specimen was the gold standard to determine malignant involvement. Results The optimal ADC threshold was 1.0 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s. Using this cutoff point, sensitivity and specificity were 92.3% and 83.9%, respectively. When used in combination with size and morphological criteria, ADC value