[Sonography of the salivary glands]. / Sonographie der Speicheldrüsen.

358 sonographic studies of the salivary glands of 255 patients with proven diagnoses were evaluated retrospectively. Sonography proves to be highly valuable to differentiate between peri- and intraglandular lesions (98%). Superficial neoplasms can be delineated easily. A sharp margin of the tumour is not reliable to predict benignity, therefore biopsy should be performed in all neoplasms of the glands. Deep infiltrating processes require further evaluation by CT or MR. In cases with sialolithiasis the stones can be demonstrated in approx. 2/3 by ultrasound. Inflammatory diseases of the salivary glands have variant sonographic features. Acute infections usually have hypoechogenic parenchyma, chronic inflammations are more likely hyperechogenic.

[Differential sonographic diagnosis of space-occupying lesions in the mandibular angle]. / Sonographische Differentialdiagnose von Raumforderungen im Kieferwinkel.

The use of sonography in the evaluation of expansions at the mandibular angle was studied in 143 patients with histologically or laboratory proven diagnoses. The correct localisation of parotid tumours was achieved in all 62 cases. Other expansions were due to enlarged lymphnodes (35 times), 14 branchiogenic cysts and 6 other tumours. The distinction between malignant and benign expansions was successful in 87%, the correlation with histology was correct only in 60%. Sonography offers in the valuation of anatomic relations rather than in telling the histology of a tumour. In certain cases such as branchiogenic cysts, lipomas, haemangiomas and multicentric Whartin tumours sonography gives useful hints towards specific diagnoses. In most cases a final diagnosis of expansions at the mandibular angle must be proven by biopsy or clinical course.