High resolution ultrasonography of the parotid gland in children. Part II.

The authors previously have reported a technique for visualizing the parotid gland with high resolution ultrasonography. The fine morphology of the parotid gland as well as normal anatomical landmarks were well visualized with ultrasonography. This study has continued for the past two years, and an additional twenty patients with suspected parotid pathology are presented. Ultrasound was helpful in (1) making a specific diagnosis in sialectasis, (2) determining whether parotid swelling was secondary to enlargement of adjacent tissues or indeed secondary to an intraparotid mass, (3) demonstrating whether enlargement of adjacent tissues was vascular by using duplex Doppler scanning, and (4) follow-up of enlarged nodes within the parotid and adjacent to the parotid for development of abscess formation.