Diagnosis of Peritonsillar Abscess Using Gray Scale Image and Color DopplerImage of Intraoral Ultrasonography

Kim, Sung Min; Cho, Jae Joon; Kim, Jae Young; Huh, Hyung Bin; Hur, Chang Ho; Lee, Min Woo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Clinical differentiation of peritonsillar abscess from peritonsillar cellulitis can be difficult and often relies on diagnostic needle aspiration that is invasive. The differential diagnosis of the two conditions is very important for the planning of treatment. This study is to evaluate the usefulness of gray scale image (GSI) and color doppler image (CDI) using intraoral ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of the peritonsillar abscess from peritonsillar cellulitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty patients with suspected peritonsillar abscess were included in this study. GSI and CDI of the intraoral ultrasonography with 7-MHz curved linear array transducer were used.
RESULTS
The peritonsillar abscess showed inhomogeneously hypoechoic or cystic space on GSI and rim-shaped color flow signal on CDI. The peritonsillar cellulitis showed homogeneously hypoechoic or striated textual appearance on GSI and diffusely increased color signal on CDI. The sensitivity of GSI for diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess and peritonsillar cellulitis was 91.7% and 77.8%, respectively, whereas the specificiy of CDI proved to be 100% for the diagnosis of both conditions.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that intraoral ultrasonography is a useful and noninvasive technique for diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess.