[Ultrasonic diagnosis of the tongue]

Ultrasonic diagnosis of the tongue supplements inspection and palpation, and, aside from computerized tomography and, in particular, nuclear spin tomography, broadens our knowledge. By way of introduction, transcutaneous treatment using the submental sound-scanner in "B" mode is described. If necessary, examination can be performed simultaneously in the "B" and "M" modes. Attention is drawn to the significance of the 5 cm distance between the floor of the mouth and the surface of the tongue. Indications range from the diagnosis of tongue carcinoma, including relapse diagnosis, to dynamic functional tests of neurological disorders and visual biofeedback in phoniatrics and logopedics. Median-line diagnosis is of critical importance in tongue carcinoma. Ultrasonic diagnosis of the tongue can be recommended as a simple and cost-saving routine method.