[Sonographic spectrum of lateral head and neck soft tissue]

Sonography was performed in 206 patients with space-occupying processes in the region of the lateral soft parts of the neck, of the parotid gland or the submandibular gland (3.5; 7.5 and/or 8-10 MHz real-time contact field scanner). This sonographic examination enabled differentiation of 166 solid from 40 cystic space-occupying masses: 102 lymphatic node enlargements, 12 primary tumours of the neck, 24 neck cysts, one thymus and epidermoid cyst, on carotid aneurysm, diseases of the salivary glands (35 neoplasias, 8 cysts, 9 inflammatory tumours, 6 cases of sialolithiasis, 5 abscesses, 2 intracapsular lymphomas). The following valuable additional information was gained from sonography in respect of surgical treatment: 1. In the region of the lateral soft parts of the neck, it was possible to effect a clear differential diagnosis of the original findings based on palpation; differential diagnostic clarification of the tumour volume; spatial location of fixed tumours of the neck in relation to the adjacent soft parts of the neck, such as vessels, musculature etc.; quantification of tumour regression subsequent to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 2. In case of diseases of the salivary glands, differentiation between salivary calculi, neoplasia, inflammation and cyst; extension of tumour; localisation of processes in the immediate vicinity; preoperative localisation of salivary calculi.