Diagnostic significance of ultrasonography in investigations of swellings of head and neck region – A clinico-imaging study

Abstract

ObjectivesA study was conducted with an aim to evaluate the reliability, diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography in head and neck swelling and familiarize with the clinical application of ultrasonography as an investigative modality for diagnosis of head and neck swellings. Methodology90 randomly selected volunteering patients with obvious head and neck swellings of both gender and any age group who reported to the Dept. of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Deralakatte were included in the study. After a clinical diagnosis, they were subjected to ultrasonographic investigation and a diagnosis was arrived at. These findings were compared with final diagnosis. The data obtained were statistically analysed using sensitivity and specificity tests. ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in inflammatory swellings was 96.5%. For cystic, swellings of muscular origin, lymph node swellings and malignant neoplasms it was 100%. In addition, for benign neoplasms it was 92.86%. ConclusionUltrasonography is a valuable and accurate diagnostic tool in diagnosis of head and neck swellings. Even though ultrasonographic pictures were consistent and are, reliable they should be used only as an added informative investigation tool in diagnosing benign neoplasms, malignant neoplasms and swellings of lymph node origin.