[Clinical value of ultrasonography in diagnosing recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical value of ultrasonography in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHOD: Seventy-five patients with suspicious clinical symptoms of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma were studied 0.5-3.0 years after radiotherapy. All received ultrasonography, computed tomography examination, nasendoscopy and nasopharyngeal biopsy. The diagnostic value of ultrasonography were then evaluated.

RESULT: Of 75 cases, recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas were detected in 35 cases by ultrasonography. There were 26 cases confirmed pathologically, 9 cases false positive, 25 cases true negative and 15 cases false negative. Meanwhile, of 75 cases recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas were indicated in 35 cases by computed tomography. There were 27 cases confirmed pathologically, 8 cases false positive, 26 cases true negative and 14 cases false negative. There were no significant difference between the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography and computed tomography in diagnosing recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Either ultrasonography or computed tomography has good diagnostic values in detecting recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Furthermore, both of them can complement each other.