Gray-scale ultrasonography in the evaluation of neoplastic invasion of the base of the tongue.

Patients with primary carcinoma of the base of the tongue or direct invasion from contiguous areas were examined clinically and with ultrasound, and in some cases with computed tomography (CT), xerography, and polytomography. In all cases, multiple biopsy specimens were obtained. Utrasonography was better than the other imaging methods in delineating disease extent in the tongue itself, while CT and tomography were more useful in evaluating the retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal regions. It is suggested that ultrasound be used in the initial evaluation of such patients.