Your doctor may recommend a neck ultrasound if you have a lump or a swelling in your neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, thyroid problems, or if there are concerns about your lymph nodes or salivary glands.

This guide covers everything you need to know about neck ultrasounds, from why you might need one to how it works, what it can diagnose, and what to expect during and after the scan.

What is a Neck Ultrasound?

A neck ultrasound (sonography) is a safe and non-invasive diagnostic imaging scan that uses sound waves to create real-time images of your neck's soft tissues, glands, and blood vessels.

Why You Might Need a Neck Ultrasound

Your doctor may recommend having a neck ultrasound to check for any issues in your neck's soft tissues, glands or blood vessels. Ultrasound helps to:

Examine the structure of your neck by providing a detailed look at your thyroid, lymph nodes, and salivary glands.
Investigate lumps or swelling. For example, if you have a lump in your neck, the scan can help determine whether it’s a cyst, a swollen lymph node, or something else.
Check for infections or abscesses by detecting fluid collections or signs of infection that may need treatment.
Assess possible tumours by identifying the size and location of abnormal growths.
Guide medical procedures, such as needle biopsies.

What a Neck Ultrasound Can Diagnose

Your doctor will use a neck ultrasound to pinpoint and diagnose one of several conditions or problems within the neck tissues, including:

Thyroid Nodules

A neck ultrasound can detect and assess thyroid nodules, helping determine if they are benign or cancerous.

Goitre

Ultrasound can help your doctor measure the size and structure of your thyroid, making it easier to diagnose goitre, which is an abnormal enlargement of the gland.

Thyroid Cancer

Ultrasound can help spot thyroid cancer early by pinpointing suspicious nodules and guiding further testing or treatment.

Lymph Node Enlargement

Ultrasound can distinguish between harmless and cancerous lymph node swelling, helping your doctor stage cancer and plan treatment.

Carotid Artery Disease

A neck ultrasound checks blood flow in your carotid arteries and can detect plaque buildup that may lead to strokes.

Aneurysms

It can assess carotid artery aneurysms, providing crucial details about their size and the risk of rupture.

Blood Clots

Ultrasound can reveal blood clots in the jugular veins, which is especially important for people with cancer or those recovering from surgery.

Tumours or Cysts

It helps identify solid lumps or fluid-filled cysts in the neck and determines whether they are benign or cancerous.

Salivary Gland Disorders

It can check for problems in the salivary glands, such as stones, infections, or tumours.

Infections or Abscesses

Ultrasound helps diagnose infections or abscesses in the skin and soft tissues of the neck, allowing for quick treatment.

Types of Neck Ultrasounds

There are several types of neck ultrasounds available. Which one you have will depend on your symptoms and the area affected. Ultrasound scans include:

Thyroid Ultrasound

A thyroid ultrasound produces pictures of the thyroid gland, which is located just above the collar bones at the front of the neck and nearby structures in the neck. Your doctor will recommend a thyroid ultrasound if they suspect thyroid nodules or lumps (palpable nodules). While the vast majority of nodules are benign, some can be cancerous tumours which need further tests or treatment.

Carotid Doppler Ultrasound or Doppler Ultrasound

Your doctor will recommend a carotid Doppler ultrasound (or carotid duplex) scan if they think there may be problems with the blood flow in the carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain and head. An ultrasound can check if there are any blockages or narrowing of these arteries that could increase the risk of stroke.

Lymph Node Ultrasound

A lymph node ultrasound checks the size, shape and structure of the lymph nodes in your neck and can help your doctor identify abnormalities in the nodes, such as enlargement or any changes that could indicate cancer. A lymph node ultrasound can also guide safe biopsies of the lymph nodes, where a small tissue sample is taken from the area for further testing.

Salivary Gland Ultrasound

A salivary gland ultrasound lets your doctor visualise the major salivary glands, especially the parotid and submandibular glands. They can check for stones that may block saliva flow, benign or cancerous tumours in the salivary glands and infections, such as parotitis.

Soft Tissue Ultrasound

A soft tissue ultrasound can create images of the soft tissues in the neck, including the salivary glands, lymph nodes and thyroid gland. It gives your doctor a complete picture of all the soft tissues in the neck areas, allowing them to check for lumps, swelling or other abnormalities that may be causing symptoms.

How an Ultrasound of the Neck Works

A neck ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive and painless imaging test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the soft tissues in your neck.

During the scan, your sonographer will pass a small handheld device, called a transducer, over your neck, adjusting angles to capture different views. The transducer sends out high-frequency sound waves. These waves travel through your skin and bounce off tissues, such as your thyroid, lymph nodes, blood vessels, or salivary glands, creating echoes.

The ultrasound machine then processes these echoes to form real-time images, which help your doctor assess the size, shape, and texture of structures in your neck.

The procedure is relatively quick, usually taking around 15 to 30 minutes, and no special preparation is needed before the scan or any downtime afterwards.

Equipment Used

Your sonographer will use specialised medical equipment, including:

A high-frequency ultrasound transducer, which sends and receives sound waves.
A water-based gel, which will be applied to your skin to improve contact between the transducer and your body, ensuring images are clear.
A sonography machine with a monitor, where the captured images will appear in real-time

What Are the Benefits of Neck Ultrasound?

There are lots of advantages to using neck ultrasound, including:

It's non-invasive and painless.
It doesn’t use ionising radiation, making it safe for pregnant women and children.
It’s cost-effective and widely available.
It produces real-time, live imaging, so it’s useful for checking blood flow and providing speedy results.
It provides detailed guidance for other, more invasive procedures to obtain samples for testing, such as fine needle aspiration and biopsies.

What Are the Risks & Side Effects of Neck Ultrasound?

Neck ultrasound is considered one of the safest imaging tests, with no serious risks or complications. Since no radiation or contrast dye is used, there is little to no risk of side effects. However, some people may experience:

Mild discomfort from the transducer's pressure, especially if areas of your neck are tender or swollen.
Skin irritation or an allergic reaction to the gel, although this is very rare.

How Can I Prepare for a Neck Ultrasound?

Thankfully, there is very little you need to do to prepare for a neck ultrasound. But there are a few things you can do to make the procedure as smooth as possible and ensure the best results. For example, you could:

Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to remove.
Drink plenty of water if you’re having a carotid Doppler scan. This will help your veins stay open and allow for better imaging.

The Procedures Explained: What to Expect During Your Neck Ultrasound

Your sonographer will ask you to remove jewellery or clothing around the neck area, such as neck scarves. They will then apply a clear gel, called conductive gel, over the neck areas. It may feel cold at first.

Your sonographer will then guide the transducer over the neck area, adjusting angles to get a better look at the structures within. They’ll capture and assess any images produced during the ultrasound for further assessment.

Once your scan is complete, they’ll give you a tissue to help you remove the gel, and you can go home.

What Happens After a Neck Ultrasound and How Will I Get the Results?

Your sonographer will review images taken during the ultrasound and send a report to your doctor. This usually takes around one to three days. Your doctor will discuss the findings with you at your next consultation and recommend any next steps. This could include further tests, scans, tissue biopsy, or starting treatment.

How Much Does a Neck Ultrasound Cost?

Depending on where you live in the UK and the facility you choose to have your scan at, a neck ultrasound can cost anywhere between £180 and £500.

Get a Neck Ultrasound

You can book a private neck ultrasound scan near you today with Scan.com. We can help you fast-track your diagnosis with no GP referrals required and expert clinical consultations within days. Choose from over 150 centres nationwide with flexible appointment times and get fast online results, including a digital imaging report. It’s easier than ever to skip the waiting lists and get your health back on track.

FAQs

Can a Neck Ultrasound Detect Throat Cancer?

While a neck ultrasound can help to identify abnormal lumps or enlarged lymph nodes that may suggest throat cancer, it cannot directly diagnose the disease.

If your doctor thinks that your ultrasound results show possibly cancerous masses in the neck, they will order further scans or more invasive tests, such as a biopsy, to safely diagnose cancer or rule it out.

However, ultrasound can be a valuable tool in detecting cancer early, improving your outcomes if you do have throat cancer.

How Long Does a Neck Ultrasound Take?

A neck ultrasound typically takes around 15 to 3.0 minutes, depending on the area of your neck being examined and the complexity of the findings. However, there is no downtime with the scan and you can return to your usual activities straight away.

Why Would a Neck Lump Not Show Up on Ultrasound?

Some neck lumps might not appear on ultrasound for several reasons. The lump may be too deeply embedded within the tissue, hidden behind bone, or too small to detect. Soft, fatty lumps, such as non-cancerous lipomas, often blend in with surrounding tissue, making them hard to detect with ultrasound.

How Long Do Neck Ultrasound Results Take?

The time it takes to receive your neck ultrasound result may vary depending on your chosen facility or clinic. However, your sonographer will usually review the images within 24 to 48 hours, and your doctor will discuss the findings with you soon after. Some clinics provide immediate results if a doctor is present during the scan, while others take a few days. If your doctor thinks you need a biopsy or additional testing, results may take longer.

What Does Neck Cancer Look Like on an Ultrasound?

Neck cancer is a broad term that refers to several different types of cancer in the throat and neck./, including the mouth, voice box (larynx), salivary glands or sinuses. Depending on the type of cancer, it may appear on ultrasound results as lumps, which appear as darker (hypoechoic) areas with uneven borders or edges. If lymph nodes are affected, they may look enlarged or rounded instead of their usual oval shape. Your sonographer may also detect abnormal blood flow within cancerous lumps in real time.

Sources:

Head and neck cancer. (2021). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer/

Head and Neck Cancers. (2021). https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet

Head and neck ultrasound scan. (2023). https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/head-and-neck-ultrasound-scan

Neck lump clinic. (2022). https://www.entuk.org/patients/conditions/60/neck_lump_clinic/

Tests for head and neck cancer. (2022). https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnostic-tests/tests-for-head-and-neck-cancer

Ultrasound - Thyroid. (2023). https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/us-thyroid

Neck Ultrasound