Characterization of color doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging-based diagnosis of neck swellings in children and young adults: An observational study

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: To Characterize and co-relate the clinical, Colour Doppler Ultrasonography (USG) and Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) based diagnosis of neck swellings in children and young adults. Method: An observational cross sectional study was performed for a duration of 6 months with a conveniently recruited sample size of 35 subjects. A brief history, clinical examination, Imaging (USG and MRI-mandatorily; other modalities/histology as needed for diagnosis) was performed as per standard protocol for all the patients. The characterization was done was done by reporting and co-relating clinical, final and imaging based diagnosis. Results: The maximum number of cases were of developmental origin (37.1%), followed by the masses of vascular origin (17.1%), masses of mesenchymal origin (17.1%), thyroid masses (11.4%), salivary gland masses (8.6%), malignant lymph nodal masses (5.8%) and inflammatory masses (2.8%). The benign lesion accounted for 85.7% (n=30) while 14.3% (n=5) were malignant. Clinical diagnosis was in agreement with final diagnosis in 25 (71.4%) out of 35 cases. USG based diagnosis matched with final diagnosis in 29 out of 35 cases and MRI based diagnosis in 32 out of 35 cases, having a diagnostic accuracy of 82.8 % and 94.2% respectively. Conclusion: The study showed, MRI has higher diagnostic ability than USG, but final diagnosis need correlations for other modalities. Ultrasonography with Doppler settings should be considered as the first-line screening investigation while, MRI to be used for accurate anatomical localization and characterization of neck swellings.