Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Primary Care Office for Early Detection of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Supraglottic Larynx: A Case Report

TL;DR

A case report shows how point-of-care ultrasound in a primary care setting helped detect laryngeal cancer early through a suspicious neck mass.

Contribution

Demonstrates PoCUS's potential for early detection of malignancy in primary care, particularly for neck masses.

Findings

PoCUS identified a suspicious neck mass during a routine wellness visit.

The mass was confirmed as metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx.

The case highlights PoCUS's role in accelerating diagnosis in ambulatory settings.

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in the head and neck region is still in its early stages, despite decades of formal ultrasound use. A literature gap exists as recent studies primarily focus on general techniques, leaving room for exploration in ambulatory primary care, especially regarding neck masses. Our case demonstrates a 61-year-old female who presented for an annual wellness appointment, reporting a cough and alarming neck symptoms. A prompt investigation using PoCUS identified a suspicious neck mass. This mass was evaluated with bedside POCUS, and the mass was determined to be an abnormal lymph node with findings concerning malignancy. Subsequent diagnostic measures confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the supraglottic larynx. This case underscores PoCUS's transformative potential in ambulatory primary care for neck mass evaluation, facilitating swift and thorough diagnostic processes. This successful outcome emphasizes PoCUS's promising role in routine clinical practice, urging future research for standardized evaluation protocols to enhance diagnostic efficiency.

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