Computed tomography appearance of marked keratinization of metastatic cervical lymph nodes: a case report

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1997 Sep;84(3):321-6. doi: 10.1016/s1079-2104(97)90351-6.

Abstract

A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is reported with emphasis on an atypical finding of cervical lymph node metastasis visible on computed tomography. Multiple cervical lymph nodes revealed a high computed tomographic value of about 330 HU, lower than that of calcification. The lymph nodes revealed well-defined elliptical hyperechoic masses with an echogenic line and posterior shadow on ultrasonography. The appearance of a high density mass on computed tomography with a computed tomographic value lower than that of calcification may be a reliable finding of metastasis because it demonstrates the presence of marked keratinization produced by squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Keratins
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck
  • Radiography, Panoramic
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Tongue Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tongue Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Keratins