Intraoral sonographic evaluation of parapharyngeal space tumors.

We performed transcutaneous (external) sonography and then intraoral sonography to evaluate 3 parapharyngeal space tumors (1 vagal paraganglioma, 1 pleomorphic adenoma, and 1 carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma). All 3 patients had medial displacement of a tonsil. In all cases, we could measure the size and see the borders of the tumors and their relation to other structures on intraoral sonography. Intraoral sonography is useful for differentiating between unilaterally enlarged and medially displaced tonsils.