Intraoral ultrasound evaluation of peritonsillar abscess

Peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess are similar clinical entities with markedly different methods of treatment. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is paramount to appropriate treatment. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of intraoral ultrasound as a n...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Laryngoscope Vol. 105; no. 8 Pt 1; p. 779
Main Authors Strong, E B, Woodward, P J, Johnson, L P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.1995
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Cellulitis - diagnostic imaging
Child
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Peritonsillar Abscess - diagnostic imaging
Pharyngeal Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Pilot Projects
Prospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonography
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess are similar clinical entities with markedly different methods of treatment. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is paramount to appropriate treatment. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of intraoral ultrasound as a noninvasive method of differentiating abscess from cellulitis. Sixteen consecutive patients suspected of having peritonsillar abscess were prospectively evaluated with intraoral ultrasound. The results were confirmed with imaging or surgical drainage. Correct diagnoses were made in 9 (90%) of 10 abscesses and in 5 (83%) of 6 cases of cellulitis. Our results suggest that, while there is a learning curve for intraoral ultrasound, it is an accurate, noninvasive, and inexpensive tool to differentiate abscess from cellulitis. We believe that this will be a clinically useful technique in the future.
ISSN:0023-852X
DOI:10.1288/00005537-199508000-00002