[Sonography of the larynx--an alternative to laryngoscopy?].

PROBLEM

The aim of this study was to determine whether the pictorial results obtained from B-mode ultrasonography duplicate those of laryngeal endoscopy and whether there are any additional advantages when using ultrasonography.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 22 patients with various diseases of the larynx were examined ultrasonically with the ultrasound plusing a Sonoline Elegra as well as with a '7.5 L40' and a 'VF 13/5' linear array. In order to compare both methods directly, reference data were prepared and contrasted.

RESULTS

All of the laryngeal lesions recognised in the endoscopic investigation were also demonstrable by the use of ultrasound, although minor changes were difficult to detect. In one case, ultrasonography suggested the presence of an infiltration of the thyroid cartilage, otherwise no additional information was available using this method.

CONCLUSIONS

Using ultrasonography, the image quality of the larynx is worse than that of the soft tissue of the neck, which is determined by the air-mucous membrane boundary as well as the (ossified) cartilaginous skeleton. Thus, ultrasonography is useful in cases of larger laryngeal lesions, while there is no advantage in the detection of small processes.