Contents
- What is an ultrasound examination?
- When to perform ultrasound of lymph nodes?
- Which lymph nodes are tested the most?
- Diseases detected during ultrasound of lymph nodes
- Ultrasound of lymph nodes – contraindications
- Ultrasound of lymph nodes – preparation for examination
- The course of ultrasound of lymph nodes
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Ultrasound examination of lymph nodes is a way to diagnose neoplastic changes or distinguish them from inflammations and pathologies in the form of cysts or cysts. Ultrasound imaging is a completely safe and painless method of diagnosing diseases. Usually, it is referred by a doctor who suspects abnormalities in the structures of the lymphatic system.
What is an ultrasound examination?
Ultrasound (USG) is a study that uses ultrasound waves to image human structures and internal organs. Completely safe ultrasounds are emitted by a special head, they propagate in the tissues and return, and the computer processes them into a ready image recorded in real time. The appropriate frequency is set by the person conducting the examination thanks to the apparatus that is part of the ultrasound scanner. Better wave propagation in a given medium is achieved thanks to the use of a special gel.
In most cases, there are no contraindications for ultrasound. It is completely safe for pregnant women and children of all ages. The only general contraindication is skin wounds and burns in the area where the ultrasound probe is to be applied. In some cases, there are also special recommendations that will increase the accuracy of the examination. This applies, for example, to an ultrasound of the urinary system, before which you should not urinate.
When to perform ultrasound of lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes are structures that belong to the lymphatic system and are located in different areas of the body. Usually an indication to the imaging of lymph nodes there is their enlargement, soreness and skin changes visible in places of their larger clusters. It should also be remembered that some nodes are located in deep tissues and it is impossible to assess them by palpation. This applies, inter alia, to deep cervical nodes and those located in the abdominal cavity and mediastinum.
Noticeable node enlargement lying subcutaneously may be the result of an inflammatory process in the body. It is not known, however, whether the cause of this condition is a viral or bacterial infection. Hardening under the skin may be an abscess, cyst, cyst, or cancerous lesion. Ultrasound imaging is the way to correctly determine the nature of the lumps.
Ultrasound examination of lymph nodes is also performed in the course of fine-needle biopsy of these structures. It is a diagnostic method that allows to detect neoplastic changes. The tissue material collected during the biopsy is subjected to histopathological examination.
- Also read: Ultrasound of soft tissues – diagnostics, indications, course
Which lymph nodes are tested the most?
Some lymph nodes in the human body require special attention. The most frequently studied are:
- cervical lymph nodes;
- axillary lymph nodes;
- supraclavicular and subclavian lymph nodes;
- mandibular lymph nodes;
- inguinal lymph nodes;
- occipital lymph nodes.
If the ultrasound shows enlarged lymphatic structures in the chest and above the collarbones, it is an urgent indication for further diagnostics under the guidance of neoplasms.
W assessment of lymph nodes the doctor pays attention not only to the size of the lymph nodes or their possible growth. Their shape and the ratio of length to thickness are also important. A disturbing change is the pronounced rounding of the knot, which should naturally be oval. On ultrasound using the Doppler technique, it is also possible to observe the blood supply to the lymph node.
- See also: ultrasound of salivary glands – when to do it and how to prepare for it?
Diseases detected during ultrasound of lymph nodes
Your doctor can identify conditions that require immediate treatment by assessing your lymph nodes during an ultrasound scan. The likelihood of major changes occurring in the body increases when the lymph nodes become rapidly enlarged in a short time. The ultrasound image shows abnormalities such as necrosis and accumulation of purulent contents.
Lymph nodes ultrasound is therefore a diagnostic tool in case of suspicion of:
- tuberculosis;
- mononucleosis;
- HIV infection;
- leukemia;
- lymphoma.
Ultrasound of lymph nodes – contraindications
Imaging tests related to the effects of ultrasound are safe, especially when it comes to ultrasound. Contraindications appear in the case of X-ray and tomography, i.e. tests based on X-rays. There are no absolute contraindications for ultrasound, and painful skin injuries (burns, wounds) may be a relative difficulty. This means that ultrasound of lymph nodes is also recommended for pregnant women and children.
Ultrasound of lymph nodes – preparation for examination
When we make an appointment, during which ultrasound of the lymph nodes will be performed, all you need to do is have your identity card with you and possibly the results of previous imaging tests. In the case of a reimbursed visit, a referral is also necessary. This is where the necessary preparatory steps are over, unless an examination is scheduled lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity. Then it is necessary to come to the office on an empty stomach.
Performing ultrasound of lymph nodes as part of a private visit, it can cost us about PLN 80–150.
The course of ultrasound of lymph nodes
A visit to a specialist who performs ultrasound of the lymph nodes begins with an interview. When the doctor familiarizes himself with the problem, he will show the patient the couch on which he will conduct the examination. You should lie down in a designated area and expose the skin in the area of the examined lymph nodes. It will be covered with gel, and then the doctor will perform an ultrasound examination. The probe moves over the surface of the skin, and on the monitor you can observe the structures inside the body. The frequency of the waves is set in such a way as to image the lymph nodes at the appropriate depth.
The doctor analyzes the condition of the lymph nodes on an ongoing basis, and then performs a short one description of the ultrasound examination taking into account any irregularities. With the results, the patient should go to the specialist who ordered the ultrasound.