Diagnosis of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We have routinely performed ultrasonography as the first-choice examination of neck masses since 1985. At the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kanagawa Cancer Center, the percentage of patients with head and neck cancer and neck masses is very high, and cervical ultrasonography is performed on more than 1,000 patients per year, including referrals from other departments. In patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, in particular, the outcome often depends on the control of cervical lymph node metastasis, so the accurate diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis before treatment is vital for the determination of the therapeutic method. The primary topic of this report is the usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography and Elastography for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 2. Subjects and Methods