[Echography in studying the hyothyroepiglottic space. Normal image. Pathologic aspects. Histologic correlations]

Invasion of the hyothyroepiglottic (HTE) space, or pre-epiglottic space, constitutes an important element in selecting the type of therapy in cancer of the larynx (functional surgery, radiotherapy), the oropharynx and the hypopharynx. Clinical examination and standard X-ray films provide insufficient information. High frequency real time ultrasonography offers a reliable means for exploring the pre-epiglottic space, as evidenced by this study carried on 34 histologically-confirmed cases taken among 77 cases of carcinoma of the upper digestive and respiratory tracts. Advantages presented by this method over CT-scanning and MR imaging in this particular pathological are simplicity, rapidity and low cost, combined with good performance.