Intraoral and transcutaneous Point-of-Care-Ultrasound: a Novel Method for Oral and Maxillofacial Applications
2Department of Oral Medicine, Sedation and Imaging, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Israel
3Department of Medical Imaging, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel
4Bruce and Ruth Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
5George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
Point-of-Care-Ultrasound (PoCUS) is an essential diagnostic tool in many medical subspecialties, in hospital-based care, emergencies, trauma, and in general practice. We introduce a simple, novel approach for implementation of PoCUS of the oral cavity and maxillofacial complex, and discuss the technique and pitfalls. We present a pilot series on intraoral and transcutaneous PoCUS for various maxillofacial applications, show case examples, and propose a plan for technology assessment to improve diagnostic accuracy and inform treatment selection. Relevant indications include differentiating abscess from cellulitis, detecting jaw and facial fractures, assessment of surgical complications, guiding biopsies, removing foreign bodies and evaluating soft tissue masses. Intra-oral and transcutaneous approaches may be used alone or in combination. This pilot series shows the capability of PoCUS to improve diagnostic accuracy, speed diagnosis, guide procedures and improve management, suggesting feasibility. Prospective studies are underway to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the method and impact on patient outcomes.
*This work has been submitted to a scientific journal and is currently under review.