The Abnormal Neck Node - A Sonographers Guide.
Nicola Davidson, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Introduction
Cervical lymphadenopathy is common in head and neck cancer and malignant lymph nodes can be from a range of conditions including lymphoma or metastases. Ultrasound assessment has a higher sensitivity for detecting lymphadenopathy compared to clinical assessment and therefore, forms an essential part in diagnosis and planning patient treatment and ultimately the patients prognosis. It is therefore essential that all sonographers performing neck ultrasound have an understanding of the normal architecture of a lymph node, classical appearances of abnormal nodes and the diseases they are associated with and also an awareness of lymphatic drainage and how this can influence metastatic spread.