[Diagnostic use of ultrasound for examination of the nose and the paranasal sinuses].

Ultrasound is commonly performed to diagnose pathological processes of the neck and the salivary glands. In contrast, pathological changes of the sinuses and the bony structures of the face are only rarely examined sonographically. This paper deals with the diagnostic scope of ultrasound in the case of orbital and nasal fractures as well as for cases of sinus pathology excluding acute sinusitis. 51 patients with different diseases of this area were examined using US and X-ray or CT scan. Fractures of the nose could all be diagnosed correctly by ultrasound, which is of clinical importance if children or pregnant patients are examined. Blow-out fractures of the orbit were not detected. In contrast, pathological changes of the orbit itself could be distinguished sufficiently well from those infiltrating the orbit and originating from the sinuses. Real-time examination allows the detection of infiltration of orbital muscles and the bulb of the eye better than any other imaging method.