Why do we need to do neck ultrasound?

Neck B-ultrasound is mainly used to examine some soft tissue structures in the neck, such as blood vessels, cervical lymph nodes, thyroid gland, mandibular and supraclavicular lymph nodes. It can detect nodules, vascular blockages, tumors, plaques and inflammation, etc., and plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis of cervical diseases.

The carotid artery is a large blood vessel located on both sides of the trachea in our neck, which includes the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery and external carotid artery. It is also the main channel connecting the heart and the brain. The blood supply function of the carotid artery ensures sufficient blood supply to the brain, thereby maintaining the normal operation of various functions such as brain activity, thinking, and perception. Any pathological changes in the carotid artery, such as arteriosclerosis, carotid stenosis, etc., may lead to insufficient blood supply, and then cause serious diseases such as cerebral ischemia and stroke. The incidence and disability rate of stroke are very high, and it is one of the important causes of disease and death in patients. This article will help you better understand why a neck B-ultrasound examination is necessary?

What does neck B-ultrasound include?

Ultrasound of cervical lymph nodes: Use B-ultrasound technology to evaluate the size, shape, texture, number and other information of cervical lymph nodes, and check for inflammation, infection, tuberculosis, tumor metastasis, etc. of the lymph nodes.

Thyroid B-ultrasound: used to examine the size, shape, nodules, cysts, etc. of the thyroid gland, evaluate the structure, function and blood flow of the thyroid gland, and diagnose thyroid diseases such as goiter, nodules, tumors, etc.

Parotid and submandibular gland B-ultrasound: used to evaluate the structure, size, shape, cysts, masses, blood flow, etc. of the parotid and submandibular glands, and to diagnose glandular inflammation, tumors and other diseases.

According to research data, among the 1.4 billion people in my country, about 200 million suffer from carotid artery plaques, of which more than 40% are over 40 years old. With the continuous changes in the lifestyle of contemporary people, carotid artery disease is becoming younger and younger, so B-ultrasound examination of the neck is very important.

Importance of neck B-ultrasound examination:

Early detection of diseases: Neck B-ultrasound examination can help early detection and diagnosis of neck-related diseases, such as carotid stenosis, thyroid nodules, neck masses, etc. By detecting diseases at an early stage, appropriate treatment measures can be taken to prevent further changes in the condition.

Formulate treatment plans: Neck B-ultrasound examination can provide detailed information about patients' neck-related diseases, which can serve as an important basis for doctors to formulate treatment plans. For example, for patients with carotid stenosis, neck B-ultrasound can determine whether interventional surgery or drug treatment is needed; for patients with thyroid nodules, neck B-ultrasound can determine the size and nature of the nodules, and decide whether further biopsy or surgical treatment is needed based on the examination results.

Observe changes in the disease: Neck B-ultrasound examinations can be repeated multiple times to track changes in the disease, understand the treatment effects in a timely manner, evaluate the evolution trend of the disease, and adjust the treatment plan based on the examination results.

Guiding surgical operations: For example, in carotid endarterectomy, B-ultrasound can help doctors determine the exact location and degree of stenosis of blood vessels, thereby improving the accuracy and safety of the operation.

Why should modern people do neck B-ultrasound examination?

Lifestyle and environmental changes: Changes in modern lifestyle, such as using electronic devices with the head down for long periods of time, poor sitting and working postures, etc., increase the burden on the neck and easily cause cervical spondylosis and other neck diseases. Neck B-ultrasound examination can help with early detection and intervention.

Check for carotid artery sclerosis: Carotid artery sclerosis is a common cardiovascular disease that increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Through neck B-ultrasound examination, the blood flow and blood flow velocity of the carotid artery can be evaluated, plaques and stenosis in the blood vessels can be detected, and signs of carotid artery sclerosis can be found in advance, so that appropriate prevention and treatment measures can be taken.

Thyroid disease screening: Thyroid diseases are relatively common in modern society, such as thyroid nodules, goiter, and thyroid tumors. Neck B-ultrasound examination can conduct a comprehensive assessment of the thyroid gland, thereby detecting and diagnosing thyroid diseases at an early stage.

Although neck B-ultrasound examination has certain advantages, the following points should be noted:

First, B-ultrasound examination is mainly applicable to the observation of superficial tissues and superficial blood vessels in the neck, and has certain limitations in the evaluation of deep tissues and organs;

Secondly, neck B-ultrasound examination is mainly an auxiliary diagnostic method. The specific diagnosis needs to be judged comprehensively based on the medical history, physical examination and other auxiliary examination results.

In addition, although neck B-ultrasound examination is a non-invasive and non-radioactive examination, it is still necessary to follow the doctor's guidance and advice.

In conclusion, neck B-ultrasound examination has important value in clinical diagnosis, especially for the screening of carotid artery conditions, thyroid diseases and neck tumors. It is a safe and non-invasive examination method that can provide doctors with detailed neck information for timely diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.

The opinions expressed in this article are personal. Before undergoing a neck B-ultrasound examination, you should consult your doctor to understand the specific purpose of the examination and precautions to ensure the accuracy of the examination. (Lei Caihong, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)