Presurgical, ultrasound-guided anchor-wire marking of impalpable cervical lymph nodes.

This case illustrates the surgical use of wire localization, a well tried technique from a different field of surgery, in the removal of an ultrasound-detected, impalpable deep lower cervical lymph node in a high-risk patient. A localization needle with an echogenic tip was placed freehand under ultrasound guidance, immediately before surgery. The imaging and marking of the impalpable cervical lymph node resulted in a precise surgical dissection and a reduction in operating time whilst minimizing risks to the patient and staff.