title: Comparison of high-resolution ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of nasal fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the value of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) and computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of nasal fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Facial CT and HRUS examinations performed on 140 consecutive patients (103 male and 37 female; age range, 2-74 years; mean, 26 years) with nasal trauma between October 2004 and April 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. Sonograms were obtained with a hockey stick probe (15-7 MHz linear array transducer). All patients also underwent facial CT and conventional radiography. The nasal fracture detection rates for HRUS, CT, and conventional radiography were compared with the clinical and surgical diagnosis. Nasal fractures were classified into high- and low-grade groups according to severity. They were also compared with the CT findings of all 280 lateral nasal bones and with HRUS findings as the reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The accuracy rates for HRUS, CT, and conventional radiography in detecting nasal fractures were 100%, 92.1%, and 78.6%, respectively. Compared with HRUS, CT revealed only 196 of 233 lateral nasal bone fractures; its accuracy was 80%. In high-grade fractures, the accuracy of CT was 87%, but it decreased to 68% in low-grade fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with HRUS, CT had lower accuracy, especially in low-grade nasal fractures. Thus, HRUS is a reliable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of nasal fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 1174 Jungdong, Wonmi-gu, Gyeonggi-do 420-021, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jang Gyu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Hyun Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jong Se
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seong Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Hae Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult