[Value of ultrasonography in the detection of metastatic cervical lymph nodes]

A prospective study of 18 consecutive patients with carcinoma of upper respiratory and digestive tracts is presented. The authors describe the lymph node involvement in these cases. Preoperative ultrasound exploration of the cervical node regions was performed and US findings were compared with obtain by physical examination. Despite the limitations of ultrasonography, the diagnostic and prognostic interest were emphasized. Associated with color doppler, higher specificity and sensibility were noted.