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Ultrasound Investigations in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

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Abstract

The wide availability, inexpensiveness and its nonionizing nature make ultrasound an ideal initial imaging investigation in patients with head and neck cancer. Its high sensitivity and specificity (when combined with a guided FNAC) makes it a useful tool for cervical lymph node staging and investigating thyroid and salivary gland tumours. Grey-scale ultrasound evaluates the internal architecture and local extent of superficially located head and neck cancers, and colour Doppler examines the tumour vascularity. Advances in elastography and contrast ultrasound further enhance the diagnostic capability of ultrasound. In addition, following treatment of head and neck cancer, ultrasound is a useful and safe tool for disease surveillance and assessment of treatment response.

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Correspondence to Yolanda Y. P. Lee FRCR, MBChB .

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Lee, Y.Y.P., Wong, K.T., Bhatia, K.S.S., Ahuja, A.T. (2016). Ultrasound Investigations in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. In: Bernier, J. (eds) Head and Neck Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27601-4_14

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