title: Sonographic features of traumatic neuromas after neck dissection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sonographic features of traumatic neuromas after neck dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 8 patients whose ages ranged from 36-69 years (mean, 49 years). In all cases, traumatic neuromas were incidentally detected at neck sonography for evaluation of suspected recurrence of well-differentiated papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. All sonograms and medical records were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study covered 8 cases in which traumatic neuromas were diagnosed by clinical, laboratory, fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), and other imaging modalities. None of the patients had clinical signs of neuromas, which were, incidentally, discovered by neck sonography. A noticeable sonographic feature in all cases was an isoechoic mass with internal parallel heterogeneous hyperechogenicity. All patients complained of severe pain during FNAB. The cytological results of 2 patients showed fragments of nerve tissue. The remaining 6 FNABs were nondiagnostic. Thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in washout fluids from FNAB of all patients were <0.2 ng/mL, indicating nonthyroidal origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinctive sonographic features, sharp pain during FNAB, and low Tg levels in FNAB washout fluid can help to diagnose traumatic neuromas without surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eunju
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D009463:Neuroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler