title: What the clinician wants to know: surgical perspective and ultrasound for lymph node imaging of the neck.
abstract: Imaging of lymph node metastases in the neck can have two major indications: (1) prognosis and assisting with choice of treatment; (2) staging and detection of clinically occult metastases in different levels of the neck. Both indications are discussed. The role and limitations of US and US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.vd.brekel@nki.nl
authors.forename: Michiel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van den Brekel
authors.forename: Jonas A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castelijns
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography