[Non-invasive sonography and ultrasound-guided puncture of suspected malignant facial and neck masses].

102 patients with malignomas of the face and neck were examined by palpation, sonography, and in some cases also computed tomography. In 79 patients the cervical lymph nodes had to be removed surgically. Intraoperative and pathohistological findings were compared to the examination results before treatment. Sensitivity values were 100% for sonography, 85% for palpation, and 80% for CT. For a differentiation between benign and malignant space occupying lesions sonographic structures, shapes, and sizes of non-tumorous lymph nodes were compared to those of metastasizing ones. However, non-invasive sonography alone was not sufficient for a reliable diagnosis about the nature of the tumor. Therefore a first report is presented on ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture and aspiration biopsy of suspected malignant face and neck masses.