Detection of subclinical metastasis with repeated ultrasonographic examination of cervical lymph nodes

Abstract

Three cases with tongue carcinoma, in which subclinical metastasis was detected by repeated ultrasonographic (US) examination of the neck lymph nodes performed at one-month interval, were reported. A hyperechoic area in the middle internal jugular lymph node was proved to correspond to a metastatic focus with marked keratinization histologically. In all three cases, metastatic lymphadenopathy could not be suspected on CT examination. It was suggested that repeated US examination is very useful to detect subclinical metastatic lymph nodes earlier, and it was recommended to perform it at least one-month intervals and if possible every two weeks.