Table 3 Comparison between benign and malignant lymph nodes regarding ultrasound elastography criteria

Strain Elastography

Strain score

Score 2

15

75

12

30

χ²

11.827

0.003*

Score 3

5

25

21

52.5

Score 4

–

–

7

17.5

Strain ratio

Mean ± SD

2.1 ± 1.4

4.0 ± 1.4

Mann–whitney

4.24

 < 0.001**

Range

0.9–5.0

1.0–6.6

Shear Wave Elastography

Intra-nodal Kpa

Mean ± SD

106.9 ± 71.8

206.6 ± 100.2

Mann–whitney

3.638

 < 0.001**

Range

5.7–231.3

3.9–457.8

Intra-nodal velocity (m/s)

Mean ± SD

5.5 ± 2.4

7.9 ± 2.3

Mann–whitney

3.646

 < 0.001**

Range

1.4–8.8

1.1–12.4

perinodal rim Kpa

Mean ± SD

107.6 ± 70.0

159.9 ± 100.7

Mann–whitney

1.756

0.079

Range

7.2–218.3

18.2–466.6

perinodal rim velocity m/s

Mean ± SD

5.6 ± 2.3

6.9 ± 2.3

Mann–whitney

1.717

0.086

Range

1.6–8.5

2.5–12.5

Elasticity ratio

Mean ± SD

2.4 ± 3.4

11.3 ± 21.3

Mann–whitney

4.877

 < 0.001**

Range

0.2–16.3

1.1–125.3