Combined diagnosis of lateral cervical masses by RI-scintigraphy, ultrasound and CT-scanning

Careful palpation, plain X-rays and angiography are useful in the diagnosis of lateral cervical masses, but accurate preoperative evaluation sometimes needs further examinations. Recently several new auxiliary procedures have become available such as RI-scintigraphy, Ultrasound, and CT-scanning but even these may not be sufficient when used singly. When all these procedures were combined preoperatively in the case of lateral cervical masses and the results were compared with the findings at time of surgery and the pathology of the extirpated masses, acurate preoperative diagnose were possible. (author)