Abstract: Objective  To analyze the value of qualitative and quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the diagnosis of superficial cervical lymphadenopathy. 
Methods  For this prospective study, a total of 50 patients with superficial cervical lymphadenopathy were prospectively selected as the research subjects, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed under the guidance of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was used to diagnose the superficial lymph node lesions in the neck. The value of qualitative and quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in diagnosing benign and malignant lesions of superficial lymph nodes in the neck was compared. 
Results  Pathological diagnosis showed that among the 50 patients, 17 had benign lymph nodes and 33 had malignant lymph nodes. The results of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration examination were consistent with surgical and pathological examination results(Kappa=0.868, P＜0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the contrast-enhanced perfusion pattern, lesion enhancement characteristics, boundary definition, and peak intensity grading of benign and malignant lymph nodes(P＜0.05). The time to peak(TP), peak intensity(PI), and mean transit time(mTT) values of the benign group were significantly shorter or smaller than those of the malignant group, and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05). 〖JP2〗No significant difference was found in the speed parameter(β) value between the two groups(P＞0.05). Receiver operator characteristics curve（ROC） curve analysis showed that the AUC for the diagnosis of malignant superficial cervical lymph nodes by quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis was 0.829 and 0.939 respectively. According to the optimal cut-off value, when the quantitative analysis result was lower than 85.44,〖JP〗 the sensitivity and specificity were 84.8% and 82.4% respectively; when the qualitative analysis result was lower than 3.51, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.9% and 82.4% respectively. 
Conclusion  The results of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration are in good agreement with those of surgical and pathological examination. The qualitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is superior to the quantitative analysis in the diagnosis of superficial cervical lymphadenopathy.

Key words: superficial lymphadenopathy, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, diagnosis