Diagnostic Ultrasound in the Head and Neck Region

From Volume 35, Issue 8, October 2008 | Pages 529-534

Authors

Sheena Kotecha

BDS Hons(GKT), MFDS RCS(Eng)

Senior House Officer Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK

Articles by Sheena Kotecha

Parul Bhatia

BDS(Bristol)

Senior House Officer Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK

Articles by Parul Bhatia

PG John Rout

BDS, FRD RCS, DDR RCR, MDentSci, FRCR

Birmingham Dental Hospital, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham, UK

Articles by PG John Rout

Abstract

Improvements in ultrasound (US) resolution have led to the application of this non-ionizing imaging modality in the diagnosis of soft tissue disorders affecting the head and neck region.1 Although operator experience is paramount in image interpretation, US has the advantage of being inexpensive, safe and widely available. Ultrasound is the first line imaging modality for suspected salivary gland tumours and is useful in evaluating superficial neck swellings, such as lymph node disease, soft tissue cysts and vascular malformations. Ultrasound also improves the success rate when used for guidance during fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

Article