[Value of abdominal ultrasound and skeletal scintigraphy in TNM classification of tumors in the head and neck area].

After establishing the diagnosis of carcinoma in the head and neck, routine examinations comprise chest x-ray, bone scan and abdominal ultrasound and are often initiated to exclude or confirm metastatic disease. Data are few on the frequency of metastases at the time of initial diagnosis and reliability of bone scanning and sonography to detect metastases. The aim of the present retrospective study was to define criteria for the use of these latter two methods of examination. The medical records of 382 patients with squamous cell carcinoma who were examined for the first time were analyzed during a four-year period. Bone scanning was performed on 360 patients, but suspect scintigraphic evidence of bone metastasis could be confirmed in only one patient. Only three of 367 patients undergoing abdominal ultrasound were found to have hepatic metastases. Reasons for a practical use of these two methods of examination are discussed.