Power Doppler sonography of normal cervical lymph nodes

This study was undertaken to investigate the vasculature of normal cervical nodes by power Doppler sonography. In 101 subjects who had a sonographic examination of the neck, 1050 lymph nodes were detected. The vascular distribution was classified into four categories: 1. Hilar; 2. Capsular; 3. Mixed (hilar+capsular); 4. Absent. The vascular resistance (pulsatility index, PI and resistance index, RI) was measured from the Doppler spectrum. Only central vascularity was found in normal cervical nodes. The degree of vascularity in submental and submandibular nodes was higher than that in other regional nodes. Submental nodes had a higher vascular resistance in association with a lower blood flow velocity than other regional nodes. There was no significant difference in blood flow velocities and vascular resistance between males and females. The vascular resistance increased significantly with aging. This study provides a baseline for vascularity within normal cervical nodes, as seen by Power Doppler sonography.