Objectives: We evaluated the diagnostic value of palpation, ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT) in detecting neck metastasis in head and neck cancers.
Patients and methods: The study included 35 patients (34 men, 1 woman; mean age 59 years; range 35 to 72 years) with laryngeal carcinoma. In addition to neck palpation, 17 patients and 27 patients had neck examinations by US and CT, respectively. Histopathologic results of the neck specimens were compared with those obtained from palpation, US, and CT.
Results: The accuracy of CT, US, and palpation in the evaluation of lymph nodes of the neck were 85%, 65%, and 80%, respectively. Ultrasonography was found to have the highest sensitivity (100%), but the least specificity (33%). The highest false positive and false negative results were obtained by US (42%) and palpation (10%), respectively.
Conclusion: Computed tomography proved superior to palpation and US in the evaluation of neck metastasis in patients with head and neck tumors.