Malignant carotid invasion: sonographic diagnosis.
Malignant invasion of the carotid artery is an ominous complication of squamous cell carcinoma that can be suspected from B-mode sonography. A loss of carotid wall integrity seen as a break or step off of the inner wall suggests early involvement. Frank tumor invading the lumen is an end-stage event. Both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are 100% sensitive in the evaluation that no carotid involvement has occurred. In one study, ultrasound was 75% specific and magnetic resonance was 87.5% specific. If the ultrasound is problematic, magnetic resonance may clarify the issue.
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco.
G A
GA
Gooding
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014463:Ultrasonography