Lymph node ultrasound
A lymph node ultrasound shows the size, shape, inner structure and blood flow of your lymph nodes. It is painless. There is no radiation and no preparation. Adults, children and pregnant women can all have it. Most people come when a lump appears under the jaw, on the neck, in the armpit or in the groin and does not go away. At Oberig Clinic the scan is done by ultrasound doctors of the Diagnostic Department on expert-class machines, including the ACUSON Sequoia by Siemens.
Lymph nodes are filters of the immune system. They trap bacteria, viruses and abnormal cells. With any infection the nearby nodes swell. In most cases this is a normal reaction and it settles within a few weeks. The scan helps tell that reaction apart from changes that need an oncologist or a hematologist.
What the scan shows
The doctor measures the node in two planes and compares its length with its width. A healthy or reactive node is usually oval. It has smooth edges and a bright centre called the hilum, where vessels and fat enter. The outer layer (the cortex) around the hilum is thin and even.
Other signs raise concern: a round shape, no visible hilum, an unevenly thick cortex, tiny calcium spots, pockets of fluid inside (necrosis), or several nodes fused into a cluster. In Doppler mode the doctor looks at the blood flow. In a reactive node the vessels run from the hilum. In an abnormal node they often appear around the edge.
The scan does not give a final diagnosis. It shows whether a node looks inflamed or needs a closer look. If the signs are unclear, the doctor books a follow-up scan in 4-6 weeks or an ultrasound-guided needle sample.
When you need it
Come for a check if you feel a node that does not shrink for 2-3 weeks, keeps growing, turns hard or does not move. Come sooner if the area is sore, red or hot, or if you have night sweats, weight loss, weakness or a low fever for no clear reason.
Doctors order the scan for long-lasting tonsillitis, ear infections, dental problems, glandular fever (mono), after a cat scratch, and for chronic infections and autoimmune disease. For tumours it helps check the regional nodes in breast and thyroid cancer, melanoma and lymphoma, and then follow them after treatment. After a vaccine in the upper arm, armpit nodes on the same side can swell for a few weeks. It helps to know this and not worry for nothing.
If a node stays big or the result raises questions, the next step is an oncologist. The doctor checks the other node groups, orders blood tests and decides if you need a biopsy.
Which lymph nodes are checked
The clinic's price list calls this a peripheral lymph node ultrasound, and the price is per body area. Peripheral nodes lie under the skin where ultrasound can reach them: in the neck, the armpits, the groin, above and below the collarbone. Nodes in the abdomen and chest are checked another way, during an abdominal ultrasound, CT or MRI. So a scan of every node in one visit is not the usual plan. The doctor picks the areas based on your symptoms.
The neck is the most common request. It includes the nodes along the large neck muscle, in front of the ear and under the jaw. Nodes under the jaw are checked for problems with teeth, gums, tonsils and salivary glands. The nodes at the back of the head are checked for scalp infections and, in children, some viral infections. Nodes above the collarbone swell less often. That is exactly why the doctor pays close attention to them.
Nodes below the collarbone are usually checked together with the armpit, because these groups are linked. An armpit scan is done for breast changes, after breast surgery, and for an infection or boils on the arm. Women often have the armpits and breasts scanned in one visit. A groin scan is ordered for infections of the legs and pelvic organs, after injuries and cuts, for varicose veins and after hernia surgery.
Neck lymph node ultrasound
The neck is the trickiest area. The nodes sit in groups at different levels, close to the thyroid, the salivary glands and the large vessels. That is why a neck scan is often combined with a thyroid ultrasound. The doctor compares the right and left sides and records the level where a changed node sits.
Children have swollen neck nodes much more often than adults. Every cold, new tooth or ear infection leaves "peas" under the jaw for a few weeks. If your child feels well and the nodes are soft and move under the fingers, the pediatrician usually just watches. A scan makes sense when a node is bigger than 1.5-2 cm, grows or lasts longer than a month.
The doctor takes a separate look at the nodes near the thyroid. If you have thyroid nodules or had thyroid surgery, the neck nodes are checked regularly. Thyroid cancer most often spreads there first. An endocrinologist or oncologist sets the schedule.
Preparation and the visit
No preparation is needed. You can eat and drink. Wear clothes that make it easy to uncover your neck, armpits or groin. Bring earlier ultrasound reports, blood tests and discharge notes. The trend matters: a 12 mm node that was 18 mm last year and a 12 mm node that was 8 mm a month ago tell two different stories.
You lie on the couch. The doctor puts gel on the skin and moves the probe over the area. For the neck you tip your head back and turn it. For the armpits you put your arm behind your head. One area takes 10-15 minutes. The doctor checks both sides, even if you felt the node on one side only. The comparison shows what is normal for you. It does not hurt. The gel just feels cool. The doctor explains the result straight away, and you get the written report on the same day.
Normal size and features
There is no single number for every node. The limits depend on the area and your age. Below are the general guides ultrasound doctors use. Your doctor judges the result together with your symptoms, an exam and blood tests.
| Feature | Usually reactive | Needs a closer look |
|---|---|---|
| Short axis | up to 10 mm (under the jaw and in the groin up to 12-15 mm) | above the limit for the area, or growing |
| Shape | oval, twice as long as it is wide | round |
| Hilum | clearly visible | missing or squeezed |
| Cortex | thin and even | thick, uneven |
| Blood flow | from the hilum | around the edge, chaotic |
| Structure | uniform | calcium spots, fluid, cluster |
One swollen node after a cold and several nodes with changed structure in different areas are very different stories. That is why the doctor describes every feature, not just the size.
What to do with the result
An ultrasound report is a description, not a verdict. The doctor who referred you reads it alongside your history. If the report shows reactive changes, you usually treat the cause, for example a bad tooth or tonsillitis. Then you repeat the scan in 4-6 weeks to make sure the node has shrunk.
Depending on the case, after the scan you may need:
- a full blood count, C-reactive protein, tests for Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasma
- a visit to an ENT doctor or a dentist if the nodes under the jaw are swollen
- a thyroid or breast ultrasound if neck or armpit nodes have changed
- a needle sample or biopsy of the node if the signs look suspicious
Repeat follow-up scans at the same clinic. The doctor then compares the nodes with the same method and sees the real trend, not the difference between two machines.
Frequently asked questions
Is a swollen lymph node dangerous?
Usually not. It reacts to an infection and shrinks within 4-6 weeks. Be alert if a node keeps growing, is hard, does not move, or comes with night sweats and weight loss.
Can I warm or massage the node?
No. Heat and massage can make inflammation worse. See a doctor and have the scan first.
Is it safe for children and in pregnancy?
Yes. Ultrasound uses no radiation. The scan is safe at any age and at any stage of pregnancy.
When is a biopsy needed?
When the scan shows suspicious signs or the node does not shrink after treatment. The clinic does ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy and surgical removal of the node. Read more about lymph node biopsy.
How many areas should be scanned?
As many as your doctor asks for. One node after tonsillitis needs only the neck. If a body-wide condition is suspected, the doctor checks the neck, armpits and groin.
Do I need a referral?
No, you can book yourself. With a referral the doctor knows exactly which area to check and what to look for, and the result goes straight to the doctor who treats you.
Lymph node ultrasound price at Oberig Clinic
You pay per body area. A neck scan costs UAH 1,175 per area. One armpit area costs the same. If the doctor also needs to check the groin, a second area is added. The price list also has a separate line for a scan by Natalia Riepina, Honoured Doctor of Ukraine.
The neck counts as one area in the price list. It usually covers the nodes on both sides. Ask at booking which groups you need checked. If during the scan the doctor sees that one more area is worth checking, they tell you right away.
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Peripheral lymph nodes, one body area | UAH 1,175 |
| Peripheral lymph nodes, one area, by Honoured Doctor of Ukraine N. Riepina | UAH 1,390 |
| Thyroid gland | UAH 1,160 |
| Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of a lymph node | UAH 4,540 |
| Lymph node biopsy (neck, groin, armpit), surgical removal | UAH 2,960 |
| Clinical oncologist, first consultation | UAH 1,670 |
Prices are taken from the clinic's price list as of 12.10.2026. They may change. Please check the current cost with the contact centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic
- 17 ultrasound machines, 7 of them expert class, including the ACUSON Sequoia by Siemens with Doppler modes to check blood flow in the node.
- Natalia Riepina, Honoured Doctor of Ukraine and member of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB), performs the scan along with other ultrasound doctors of the Diagnostic Department. Children see Halyna Huivan, a top-category doctor.
- If a node looks doubtful, interventional radiologist Yurii Chyrkov, PhD, takes an ultrasound-guided sample. The clinic's own pathology centre examines it.
- An oncologist, a hematologist, an ENT doctor and an endocrinologist work at the same clinic. You go from scan to diagnosis without searching for other centres.
You can book a lymph node ultrasound on any day that suits you. Address: 3 Zoolohichna St., buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
Lymph node ultrasound?
