From the Guidelines
Neck ultrasound is best for visualizing thyroid disorders, lymph node abnormalities, salivary gland conditions, vascular issues, and parathyroid abnormalities, as it provides excellent visualization of soft tissues without radiation exposure and allows for guided procedures like biopsies. The conditions that can be best visualized by a neck ultrasound include:
- Thyroid disorders, such as nodules, goiters, and thyroiditis, as noted in the study by 1
- Lymph node abnormalities, which can be an indication of malignancy, especially in patients over 40 years old with a smoking history, as mentioned in the study by 1
- Salivary gland conditions, such as stones or tumors, which can be evaluated using ultrasound as an initial imaging option, as stated in the study by 1
- Vascular issues, like carotid artery stenosis or jugular vein thrombosis, which can be detected using ultrasound, as noted in the study by 1
- Parathyroid abnormalities, which can be visualized using ultrasound, although it may not be the primary imaging modality, as mentioned in the study by 1
- Cystic lesions, abscesses, and certain soft tissue masses in the neck, which can be effectively detected using ultrasound, as stated in the study by 1
The use of ultrasound for these conditions is supported by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which recommends contrast-enhanced neck CT or contrast-enhanced neck MRI for patients with a neck mass deemed at risk for malignancy, but also considers ultrasound as an option for initial imaging in suspected thyroid or salivary masses, as noted in the study by 1. Additionally, the study by 1 highlights the importance of ultrasound in characterizing a neck mass, guiding percutaneous tissue sampling, and searching for additional masses.
Overall, neck ultrasound is a valuable tool for visualizing a range of conditions in the neck, and its use is supported by recent studies, including those by 1, 1, and 1.
From the Research
Conditions Visualized by Neck Ultrasound
The following conditions can be best visualized by a neck ultrasound:
- Thyroid nodules: Neck ultrasound is extremely sensitive in detecting thyroid nodules and is regarded as the most complete and cost-effective imaging method for evaluating the thyroid gland 2.
- Parathyroid glands: Ultrasound of the neck can help characterize pathologic parathyroid glands and differentiate them from thyroid nodules 3.
- Cervical lymph nodes: Neck ultrasound is sensitive in detecting cervical lymph node pathology and is useful in the diagnostic evaluation of the cervical lymph node basin 2.
- Thyroid neoplasms: Ultrasound is useful in the preoperative evaluation of the extent of thyroid neoplasms and in the detection of residual, recurrent, or metastatic thyroid tumors 2.
Specific Ultrasound Characteristics
Specific ultrasound characteristics can help differentiate between various conditions, such as:
- Morphologic patterns, echoic content, and vascular status can differentiate pathologic parathyroid glands from thyroid nodules 3.
- Combined parameters can maximally discriminate pathologic parathyroid glands from thyroid nodules 3.
- Ultrasound features can help identify high-risk lesions and guide the need for biopsy 4, 5.