Surgeon-performed Outpatient Transoral and Transcervical Ultrasound of the Oropharynx

The oropharynx is scanned using high-frequency, small-footprint ultrasound transducers placed onto the suspected oropharynx sub-locations (e.g. tonsils or tongue base). Lidocaine spray or gel will be applied prior to scanning to reduce the gag reflex.

Curved low-frequency ultrasound transducers will be placed on the submental region on the skin of the neck, and the tongue base will be visualized in the midline in transverse and sagittal planes. The tonsils will be visualized adjacent to the tongue base on either side in oblique transverse and oblique sagittal planes, deep to the submandibular glands.