Sonographic features of traumatic neuromas after neck dissection.
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.
Kwak
Jin Young
JY
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Eun-Kyung
EK
Kim
Min Jung
MJ
Son
Eunju
E
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