Screening for lymph nodes in the neck with ultrasound

In a study of the value of ultrasound in staging patients with head and neck malignancies, we performed ultrasound of the neck. The results of this investigation were compared with palpation. A fine needle aspiration biopsy and/or histologic examination was carried out on lymph nodes which were found. One hundred and six patients were included in this study. In 44 of the patients no lymph nodes could be detected, either on palpation or by ultrasound examination. In the other 62 patients all palpable lymph nodes were also demonstrated by ultrasound. However, in 20 patients with negative palpatory findings, ultrasound revealed lymph nodes: 11 metastases and 9 benign nodes. In 40 patients an ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (UGFNAB) was performed. In 85% of these patients a cytological diagnosis could be made. From these results we conclude that ultrasound and UGFNAB are of considerable value in staging head and neck malignancies.