The role of ultrasound-guided cervical lymph node biopsy in lung cancer: A scoping review

The involvement of cervical lymph nodes in lung cancer occurs frequently. Despite the involvement of this group of lymph nodes reflecting either stage N3 or M1b in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, they do not receive the same amount of attention as mediastinal lymph nodes. Furthermore, these lymph nodes are more accessible for histology samples compared to other group of lymph nodes. Critically, cervical lymph nodes are often missed on CT scans. Neck US and US-guided biopsy of cervical lymph nodes have more established roles in other primary malignancies (e.g. thyroid cancer) and non-malignant diseases. This scoping review explores existing literature on neck US and cervical lymph node biopsy in patients with suspected lung cancer. The role and potentials benefits of neck US and cervical lymph node biopsy in this group of patients is examined. We also explored whether the procedure is being performed routinely by respiratory physicians as part of their lung cancer algorithm.