Routine neck ultrasound by respiratory physicians in the diagnosis and staging of patients with lung cancer and mediastinal lymphadenopathy: a prospective pilot study

摘要

Cervical lymphadenopathy in lung cancer indicates advanced disease. The presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy is commonly associated with involvement of neck lymph nodes and some studies suggest routine neck ultrasound (NUS) in this group of patients. We conducted a two-phase study looking at training a respiratory physician to perform ultrasound-guided neck lymph node aspiration in patients with suspected lung cancer.