Real-time qualitative ultrasound elastography of miscellaneous non-nodal neck masses: applications and limitations.
To evaluate real-time qualitative ultrasound elastography as an adjunct to conventional sonography for evaluation of non-nodal neck masses identified in routine clinical practice, 52 consecutive masses in 49 patients underwent both techniques. Lesion stiffness was graded visually on chromatic-scale elastograms from ES0-3 (low to high). Diagnosis was based on (cyto)pathology (11), corroborative cross-sectional imaging (18) or characteristic conventional sonography (23). There were 16 lipomas, 15 lymphatic/venous vascular malformations (LVVMs), six neurogenic tumours/neuromas, five thyroglossal duct cysts (TGCs), five (epi)dermoids, three abscesses, one second-arch branchial cleft cyst (BCC), and one soft-tissue metastasis. In general terms, lesion stiffness was high (ES2-3) for neurogenic tumours/neuromas, (epi)dermoids and metastasis, and low (ES0-1) for lipomas, LVVM, TGCs and BCC. Abscesses displayed variable stiffness according to fluid content. Technical limitations and artefacts of elastograms were identified. Data from real-time qualitative ultrasound elastography may be a useful adjunct to sonography for diagnosis of non-nodal neck masses.
Bhatia
Kunwar S S
KS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin NT, Hong Kong.
Rasalkar
Darshana D
DD
Lee
Yim-Ping
YP
Wong
Ka-Tak
KT
King
Ann D
AD
Yuen
Yuen-Hok
YH
Ahuja
Anil T
AT
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008067:Lipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult