title: Multimodal ultrasonographic algorithm in the differentiation of submandibular masses.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The multimodal diagnostic algorithm is a simple diagnostic tool in the pre-operative assessment of submandibular masses that enables one-stage surgical concepts.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The pre-operative assessment of submandibular masses is of major clinical impact. This study assesses the diagnostic utility of a newly introduced diagnostic algorithm in the differentiation of submandibular masses based on epidemiological and B-mode ultrasonographic data.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-eight patients with submandibular triangle masses were included. Epidemiological and ultrasonographic data of 128 consecutively included patients were assessed and structured in a multimodal algorithm. The diagnostic algorithm was prospectively validated in a further 60 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single epidemiological and ultrasonographic data do not reliably predict the lesional entity. The multimodal diagnostic algorithm achieved a diagnostic sensitivity/specificity of 100%/100% in sialolithiasis, 44%/100% in benign submandibular gland diseases (BSD), 94%/96% in nodal lymphoma/unspecific lymphadenitis, and 91%/84% in carcinomas. Reduced sensitivity in BSD or specificity in carcinomas increased after intra-operative fresh frozen section in patients suspected for BSD.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery , Technische Universität München , München , Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery , Technische Universität München , München , Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cortolezis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery , Technische Universität München , München , Germany.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery , Technische Universität München , München , Germany.
authors.forename: Naglaa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery , Technische Universität München , München , Germany.
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hofauer
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Submandibular masses; carcinoma; diagnosis; level 1; ultrasound