[New possibilities in computer-assisted image processing for ultrasound diagnosis in mouth-jaw-facial surgery]

The use of a digital image processing system in ultrasound diagnostics offers not only the advantage of a space-saving archiving without loss of quality, but also a clearly higher efficacy of the examination is achieved. An interactive of system findings leads to a more complete examination and evaluation, thus increasing the reliability and the objectivity of the examination. The standardized findings by use of text components mean at the same time a clear saving of time. Moreover, this system is very comfortable not only for the comparison of different images, but also for the scientific evaluation and processing of the image data. By digitalizing the sonographic images the visual data can be processed in a personal computer. Thereby, for maxillofacial surgery a simple and fast dynamic-functional evaluation of the temporomandibular joint was made possible. By archiving without loss of quality and by higher reliability, objectivity and efficacy of the sonographic examination important preconditions for quality care in ultrasound diagnostics have been achieved.