Defining the entity of cervical lymph nodes (LNs) is essential for the diagnosis and staging of head and neck malignancies. Virtual Touch imaging quantification (VTIQ) is a relatively new method of elastography that measures tissue stiffness quantitatively. A prospective study was conducted that included 108 patients (57 benign and 51 metastatic lymph nodes [MLNs]). Shear wave velocities (SWVs) were analyzed using VTIQ and were compared with the histopathological results. Both maximum and minimum SWVs within the LNs significantly differed between benign masses and MLNs (p < 0.001). Percentage areas of the node with SWVs >6 m/s and <3.5 m/s differed significantly (p < 0.001). Intralesional areas with SWVs ≤3.5 m/s of 0–29% (odds ratio: 93.7) and 30%–69% (odds ratio: 46.3) were predictive of malignant LNs as well as ill-defined tumor (odds ratio: 5.2). VTIQ can provide more information on the entity of cervical LNs.

定义颈部淋巴结 (LN) 的实体对于头颈部恶性肿瘤的诊断和分期至关重要。虚拟触摸成像量化 (VTIQ) 是一种相对较新的弹性成像方法，可定量测量组织硬度。进行了一项前瞻性研究，其中包括 108 名患者（57 个良性淋巴结和 51 个转移性淋巴结 [MLN]）。使用 VTIQ 分析剪切波速度 (SWV) 并与组织病理学结果进行比较。LN 内的最大和最小 SWV 在良性肿块和 MLN 之间显着不同 ( p < 0.001)。SWV>6 m/s 和 <3.5 m/s 的节点面积百分比差异显着（p< 0.001)。SWV ≤ 3.5 m/s 的 0–29%（优势比：93.7）和 30%–69%（优势比：46.3）的病灶内区域可预测恶性 LN 以及界限不清的肿瘤（优势比：5.2） . VTIQ 可以提供有关宫颈淋巴结实体的更多信息。