Skip to main content
Medicine LibreTexts

6.7.7: 7. Imaging

  • Page ID
    18390
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Imaging is only required if it may change management

    Imaging of Primary

    • T1 / T2
      • Minority require imaging
      • CT / MRI to exclude thyroid cartilage or prevertebral tissue invasion if tumour immobile at examination under anaesthesia
    • T3/4
      • CT / MRI rarely helpful if total laryngectomy planned
      • If total laryngectomy planned: consider CT / MRI if concern about extrapharyngeal extension or prevertebral tissue invasion
      • If chemoradiation considered
        • CT / MRI recommended
        • Thyroid cartilage invasion
        • Staging of cervical nodes

    Cervical metastases

    • N0 neck: No need to image if elective neck dissection planned or for T1 cancers
    • N+ neck: Image (U/S or CT) if concern about resectability

    Distant metastases: CXR / CT chest: T2 – 4 cancers

    Synchronous primary: CXR / CT chest


    This page titled 6.7.7: 7. Imaging is shared under a CC BY-NC 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery.