1. A method for analyzing an ultrasound image of a lymph node to determine the status of the lymph node as being at a particular stage, comprising the steps of: (a) converting the ultrasound image into a digital ultrasound image; (b) determining a region of the digital ultrasound image corresponding to the lymph node; (c) determining at least one arithmetic value related to the texture of at least a portion of the region of the digital ultrasound image corresponding to the lymph node; (d) comparing the at least one arithmetic value to at least one predetermined value; and (e) determining whether the lymph node is at the particular stage based on the relationship between the at least one arithmetic value and the at least one predetermined value.