[Evaluation of the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasound examination of salivary gland neoplasms and metastatic tumors from the facial bones].

The aim of the study was to evaluate usefulness of colour Doppler ultrasound examination in diagnosing the salivary gland tumours and the metastatic tumours of the neck originating from the facial part of the skull. Epidemiology and histopathology of the neoplasms involving the salivary glands and the facial skeleton were discussed including the route of their spreading to the neck. The author presents update techniques of bony face radiologic imaging and basic principles of modern colour Doppler ultrasound. The examinations with the use of a colour Doppler equipment-Acuson 128-XP 10 were performed in 150 patients with the neck tumours. The exact location, size, morphology and blood supply were assessed using B and B colour mode. Then some big neck vessels like the common, internal and external carotid artery, vertebral artery, internal jugular vein were visualized. All the patients were divided into three groups according to what they were suffering from: sialoadenitis, benign and malignant tumours. The obtained results were compared and confronted with clinical features. The pattern of vascularization failed to allow for establishing preliminary diagnosis in patients in each group. Within the first group, with inflamed glands did not compress the neck vessels. Of all the patients with benign tumours, extrinsic compression on the internal jugular vein and the carotid arteries was found in 16 and 14 patients respectively. In the third group of patients with malignant disease, compression on the veins was detected in 10 cases while 5 tumours compressed the arteries. The invasion involved the internal jugular vein in 7 patients while the common and internal carotid arteries were invaded in 6. The vertebral artery was never found to be affected. It was demonstrated that compression on veins resulted in disturbing the flow which was not observed as far as the arteries were concerned. Disturbing in the flow of veins and arteries was disclosed in cases of invasion. Atheromatosis was detected in patients of each group, 7 of them had to be operated on due to a stricture within the proximal part of internal carotid artery. The results of the study express high diagnostic value of colour Doppler ultrasound examination in the neck tumours. The examination should be obligatory performed as one of the first diagnostic measures after admitting a patient. The method seems to be of very little use in diagnosis differentiating inflammation, benign and malignant salivary gland tumours and metastatic masses of the neck hence some other diagnostic procedures should be here employed.