Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40437406›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

High-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound in discriminating benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes: a diagnostic comparison.

Shuyuan Liang, Peng Han, Xiang Fei, Lianhua Zhu, Liuqing Peng, Fang Xie, Yukun Luo

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Shuyuan Liang *Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.
Peng Han *Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.
Xiang FeiDepartment of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.
Lianhua ZhuDepartment of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.
Liuqing PengDepartment of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.
Fang XieDepartment of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China.
Yukun LuoDepartment of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China. lyk301@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLymph nodes are critical immune system components, filtering harmful substances and acting as indicators in various disease states, including cancer. Accurate differentiation between benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning. However, conventional diagnostic methods often lack the required precision. High-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound (H-CEUS) offers improved temporal resolution and visualization of microvascular structures, potentially providing better diagnostic accuracy than standard contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

methodsThis study included 77 patients with suspected abnormalities in superficial lymph nodes. Each patient underwent H-CEUS and CEUS examinations, with diagnoses confirmed through biopsy or surgical resection. The diagnostic performance of H-CEUS and CEUS was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy. Chi-square tests and ROC curve analysis were employed to compare the efficacy of H-CEUS and CEUS in differentiating benign from malignant lymph nodes.

resultsH-CEUS demonstrated superior diagnostic performance over CEUS, with higher sensitivity (95.92% vs. 83.67%), specificity (92.86% vs. 57.14%), and accuracy (94.80% vs. 74.03%). H-CEUS enhanced microvascular morphology visualization, facilitating more accurate differentiation between benign and metastatic lymph nodes. The area under the ROC curve for H-CEUS (0.944) was significantly greater than that for CEUS (0.704), indicating improved diagnostic capability.

conclusionH-CEUS offers enhanced accuracy in diagnosing the nature of superficial lymph nodes, potentially improving clinical decision-making for patients with suspected lymph node malignancies. These findings support the integration of H-CEUS into routine clinical practice to achieve better diagnostic outcomes.

Indexed as

Contrast MediaLymph NodesAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansLymphatic MetastasisMaleMiddle AgedROC CurveSensitivity and SpecificityUltrasonographyYoung AdultContrast MediaBenign and malignant differentiationContrast-enhanced ultrasoundDiagnostic efficacyHigh-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasoundMicrovascular visualizationSuperficial lymph nodes

Identifiers

PMID40437406
PMCPMC12121217

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.