title: Real-time qualitative ultrasound elastography of miscellaneous non-nodal neck masses: applications and limitations.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin NT, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kunwar S S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Darshana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Rasalkar
authors.forename: Yim-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ka-Tak
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ann D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Yuen-Hok
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Anil T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ahuja
mesh_terms: 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