The importance of ultrasound assessing the condition of maxillofacial soft tissues in dental practice

In the presence of tumor-like formation of inflammatory and tumor-like nature in the maxillofacial soft tissue structure, timely differential diagnosis of this pathology is necessary. The use of additional diagnostic techniques is justified by an increase in the statistical indicators of the number of patients with the pathology of maxillofacial soft tissues among dental patients. The reduction in the number of complications, including those involving maxillofacial soft tissues, remains an urgent problem in dentistry. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound technologies in examining patients with pathologies of maxillofacial soft tissue structures. Material and methods. High-frequency ultrasound examination of the soft tissues in the facial, submandibular and parotid regions was performed in 20 healthy individuals and 39 patients with pathology of maxillofacial soft tissues. Ultrasonic scanners RS80 (Samsung Medison, Korea), Resona 7 (Mindray, China) with linear sensors of 11–23 MHz were used. The average age of male patients was 34.6±0.34 years, that in female patients – 32.6±0.51 years (p < 0.001). The proportion of working age people prevailed among the patients – 53.84% (24 persons). Results. A statistically significant predominance of women over men in patients with pathology of maxillofacial soft tissues (p < 0.001) was established. Depending on the nature of the revealed maxillofacial pathology and the area of ultrasound performed, patients were divided into the following groups: N1 (n = 17) – inflammatory pathology of soft facial and submandibular tissues; N2 (n = 4) – tumor pathology of the soft facial adn submandibular tissues, N3 (n = 8) – pathology of the salivary glands (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound technologies in assessing the condition of the soft maxillofacial and submandibular tissues consist in objective opportunity to clearly differentiate all anatomical soft tissue structures of the studied areas in normal and pathological conditions, which makes it possible to differentiate inflammatory and tumor growths in soft tissues and diseases of the salivary glands.