[Ultrasound diagnosis of the paranasal sinuses: progress in ENT practice?]

A-Scan-ultrasound cannot be left out as a routine way of examination of the paranasal sinuses in the practice of an ENT-doctor. This method is not a substitution for X-rays but gives important additional information in case of pathologic contents of the paranasal sinuses. Ultrasound diagnosis plays its main role in diagnosing decreases of the paranasal sinuses in children and pregnant females and in controlling acute sinusitis. B-Scan-ultrasound has no important advantages in diagnosing paranasal sinus diseases compared to A-Scan-ultrasound. But B-Scan-ultrasound is an ideal additional means to examine the soft parts of the head and neck. Tumours can be differentiated as solid or cystic and their relation to different tissue structures can be defined. At the moment, however, a recommendation for the routine use of the B-Scan-ultrasound in the ENT-practice cannot be given.