ABSTRACT
The majority of focal salivary gland lesions are benign; however, most will require biopsy for certainty so thorough evaluation on ultrasound is essential for further decision making. A scoring system is available from the American College of Radiology for assessing thyroid lesions on ultrasound to aid management decisions regarding follow-up and further imaging/investigation. The anatomy of the neck can be complex and can be studied to almost infinite depth. Several important vascular structures travel through the neck, and ultrasound is an excellent way to evaluate the vessels. The main artery is the carotid, which divides into the internal and external carotid arteries mid-way up the neck at the approximate level of the thyroid cartilage. A high-frequency, linear array probe with a wide footprint is a good choice for imaging the neck vessels, to allow more of the vessel to fit on the screen.
