[Contribution of echotomography to the study of parotid diseases]

Echotomography of the parotids in 88 patients was successful in detecting normal parotid morphology or inflammation of the parenchyma (parotitis) in 100 p. cent of such cases, and detecting the precise localization of tumors (adenopathies or intraparotid tumors) up to 3 mm in diameter in 93 p. cent of cases. Though cystadenomas do not provide a specific image, their appearance is typical. Positive diagnosis was possible in 85 p. cent of mixed tumors of 1 cm diameter or more, and in 5 out of 7 cases of malignant lesions. The diagnostic value of this examination is markedly limiting that of parotid sialography.