title: Noninvasive assessment of benign lesions of vocal folds by means of ultrasonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although ultrasonography (US) has been widely used in various parts of the body, its application in laryngeal examination has been limited. Our objective was to evaluate the significance of US examination in benign lesions of the vocal folds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasonographic examination of the vocal folds was performed in 14 patients in whom benign lesions of the vocal folds had been diagnosed by videolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy. Microlaryngoscopic surgery was performed after US examination. Each lesion was analyzed for the following US features: shape, size, and echotexture (echogenicity and homogeneity).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 16 lesions were diagnosed in 14 patients by means of videolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy. Ultrasonographic examination was capable of diagnosing 14 of the 16 lesions (87.25%). Ultrasonography mainly helped in the diagnosis of sessile polyps, nodules, and leukoplakia that were larger than 2 mm. The lesions were linear hyperechoic, heterogeneous hyperechoic, hypoechoic, and isoechoic if they were leukoplakia, nodules, hemorrhagic polyps, and other polypoid lesions, respectively. The results are better if the diagnosis follows the corresponding US echotexture pattern rather than videolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laryngeal US examination appears to be a useful diagnostic tool for supplementing microlaryngoscopy in the assessment of benign lesions of vocal folds. In contrast to these currently used imaging techniques, anesthesia is not necessary in laryngeal US examination. In addition, US is noninvasive, painless, and much less expensive than the other techniques.
authors: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors: Akif
authors: A
authors: Sirikci
authors: Erkan
authors: E
authors: Karatas
authors: Cengiz
authors: C
authors: Durucu
authors: Tekin
authors: T
authors: Baglam
authors: Yildirim
authors: Y
authors: Bayazit
authors: Ayhan
authors: A
authors: Ozkur
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Sonmezisik
authors: Muzaffer
authors: M
authors: Kanlikama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery