Sonographic study of the influence of parotid surgery on size and morphology of cervical lymph nodes

Introduction:

The sonomorphology and size of cervical lymph nodes are influenced by various factors. It is assumed that surgery in head and neck region also causes transformation but until now there is no study carried out to evaluate these aspects.

The aim of this prospective single-center study was to determine the changes regarding size and morphology of cervical lymph nodes.

Patients and Methods:

The ultrasonic data of 23 patients aged between 30 and 89 years were evaluated shortly before intervention and two to five days after parotid surgery.

Results:

Preoperatively no significant differences were found between cervical lymph nodes on both sides.

Postoperatively increases were registered in both the size and the number of cervical lymph nodes.

Conclusions:

In the context of this study it was shown that there is a significant increase in size and number of cervical lymph nodes after parotid surgery.

This underlines the fact that intraoperative manipulation represents an important exogenous factor for increasing size and number of lymph nodes. Probably contralateral lymph drainage or bilateral triggered immune response are reasons for this conspicuous effect on both sides of the neck.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)