A patient presenting with a neck lump is a common clinical dilemma. A meticulous clinical history and physical examination usually provides a reasonable clinical diagnosis. However, imaging is invariably necessary for accurate diagnosis and assessing anatomical extent of involvement which are important in clinical management.

High-resolution ultrasound is an ideal initial imaging investigation for most neck lumps. It is non-invasive, readily available, inexpensive and does not involve ionizing radiation. Its excellent spatial resolution is ideal for examination of superficial structures of the neck. The diagnostic accuracy is further increased if ultrasound is supplemented with a guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

An ultrasound machine with high frequency linear transducers and power / colour Doppler capability is essential for sonography of the neck.

The session will demonstrate how to perform neck ultrasound in a systematic way, highlight relevant ultrasound anatomy and provide practical tips for routine clinical ultrasound.