Molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates have an affinity for water and are called hydrophilic (âwater-lovingâ). Lipids, however, are hydrophobic (âwater-fearingâ). Some lipids are amphipathicâpart of their structure is hydrophilic and another part, usually a larger section, is hydrophobic.
The high specificity at 10 and 11 mmindicates that lymph nodes of this size are almostalways metastatic in this level.A study of level II lymph nodes shows that for thewhole population a minimum diameter of 8 mm givesa relatively high sensitivity and specificity of 81% and80%, respectively.e found that a minimum axialdiameter of 7 mm for level II and 6 mm for the rest ofthe N0 neck represented the best compromise be-tween sensitivity and specificity. However, the size oflymph nodes was not an accurate predictor of metas-tasis in the N0 neck.
Therefore, a size criterion of1 cm or larger will misrepresent the majority of allnodal metastases.Because both reactive and metastatic lymph nodesin level II tend to be larger in patients with head andneck cancer (24), many authors agree that the sizecriterion for lymph nodes in level II is larger (Table1).e found that a minimum axialdiameter of 7 mm for level II and 6 mm for the rest ofthe N0 neck represented the best compromise be-tween sensitivity and specificity. However, the size oflymph nodes was not an accurate predictor of metas-tasis in the N0 neck.