[Echographic diagnosis in orbital complications of inflammatory diseases of he paranasal sinuses].

A- B-scan sonography was performed in a consecutive series of 123 patients with acute orbital complications of inflammatory paranasal sinus diseases. Orbital edema was correctly diagnosed by echography in 100% orbital periostitis in 81%, subperiosteal abscesses in 100%, and orbital cellulitis in 92%. In a second series, 40 mucopyoceles were all correctly diagnosed by sonography. Furthermore echography revealed a collateral subperiosteal edema and a moderate thickening of extraocular muscles and bone periostitis, a massive swelling of muscles and bone defects in subperiosteal abscesses as well as encapsulated abscesses of the orbit and a concomitant retrobulbar neuritis in orbital cellulitis.