Sonographic imaging of thyroid nodules and cervical lymph nodes.

The initial application of sonography for the evaluation of the neck, more than 30 years ago, was to differentiate cystic and solid thyroid nodules. With improvements in technology, ultrasound has been applied to characterize distinct features in the appearance of thyroid nodules. More recently, its function has been expanded to assess cervical lymph nodes for metastatic thyroid cancer. This article discusses the sonographic features of thyroid nodules associated with malignancy and the role of ultrasound in the management of patients with thyroid cancer.