Sonography of the neck: Current potentials and limitations

For many clinical conditions, sonography is the first line imaging modality in the evaluation of cervical soft tissue lesions. Cervical cysts, lipomas, paragangliomas, neurogenic tumours, haemangiomas or lymphangiomas usually display a typical sonographic morphology. Sonography can be used for evaluation of soft tissue lesions and cervical lymph node assessment. Most of the afflictions of the salivary glands can be diagnosed sonographically. Sonography is also used for guided biopsy of lymph nodes, cervical soft tissue tumours or salivary gland lesions. The relationship of tumours or lymph nodes to the great cervical vessels can be evaluated. Colour Doppler can visualise the vascularisation of cervical soft tissue lesions, often narrowing down the differential diagnosis.