Head and Neck

Thyroid orbitopathy

Immune-mediated disorder Associated with hyperthyroidism in Graves disease Can be seen in hypo or euthyroid individuals Orbitopathy often precedes actual thyroid disease M:F = 1:4 4th to 5th decade Most common cause of bilateral or unilateral proptosis Deposition of mucopolysaccharides (hyaluronic acid) within extra-ocular muscles Imaging  Fusiform muscle enlargement with sparing of tendon Inferior >…

Optic drusen

Deposit of lipoproteinaceous material between basal lamina of retinal pigment epithelium and inner collagenous layer of Bruch membrane Asymptomatic Normal feature in aging eyes Also seen in age-related macular degeneration Imaging  Fundoscopy: blurring of optic disc margin CT: punctate, often bilateral calcific foci at optic nerve heads Read more Kheterpal, Sundeep, et al. “Imaging of…

Optic nerve sheath meningioma

Primary or secondary Primary – arise from arachnoid sheath of optic nerve  Secondary – spread from intracranial tumor from anterior clinoid process or sphenoid wing to involve orbit via optic canal or orbital fissure Middle aged women Bilateral lesions typical of neurofibromatosis type 2 Imaging  Generalized circumferential or fusiform enlargement of optic nerve sheath complex,…

Optic nerve glioma

Young patients, peak in first decade Bilateral lesions diagnostic of neurofibromatosis type 1 Pilocystic astrocytoma (WHO grade 1) most common. Little or no progression over time  Visual loss less common in NF-1  Imaging  Fusiform enlargement of optic nerve Expansion of optic canal MRI most accurate, iso to hypo on T1, hyper  on T2 with variable…

Retinoblastoma

Aggressive malignant neoplasm Arises from immature retina Most common intraocular tumor of childhood Manifests by 5 years of age Damage to RB1 tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 13 Multifocal or bilateral involvement in inherited disease Trilateral retinoblastoma: bilateral lesion accompanied by sellar/pineal lesion Inherited lesions associated with osteosarcomas, melanomas and carcinomas Delayed diagnosis, extra ocular…

Juvenile angiofibroma

Adolescent boys Heavy epistaxis Benign, locally invasive Mass originates at sphenopalatine foramen, widens the pterygopalatine foramen, extends into nasal cavity, erodes medial pterygoid plate and skull base near Vidian canal.  Contrast enhanced MR preferred over CT Preoperative embolism helps to reduce blood loss

Inverted papilloma

Middle meatal mass  Causes unilateral nasal obstruction Usually an ostiomeatal pattern M:F = 4:1 10% show calcification at site of attachment CT: Lobulated outline. Sufficient for diagnosis MRI: Cerebriform pattern. MRI preferred to assess recurrence Subperiosteal resection necessary to avoid recurrence

Antrochoanal polyp

Solitary dumbbell-shaped polypoid mass largely fills antrum Extends through a widened accessory sinus ostium or infundibulum into the nasal cavity and from there posteriorly through the choana into the postnasal space and even oropharynx Seen in young adults Nasal endoscopy needs to be done to rule out neoplasia / inverted papilloma 

Rathke’s cleft cyst

arise from embryologic remnant of Rathke’s pouch lies within pituitary gland, found adjacent to infundibulum (above the sella) usually asymptomatic MRI T1 high signal intensity, sometimes similar signal to CSF T2 variable signal intensity No enhancement post Gd, wall is thin and smooth and may show mild enhancement

Optic nerve glioma

pilocytic astrocytoma occurring in childhood involves optic nerves, chiasm and optic tracts chiasmal lesions often extend to hypothalamus and is of a higher histological grade associated with NF-1 (chiasmatic uncommon) indolent clinical course MRI iso to hypointense of T1 hyperintense on T2 variable Gd+ enhancement diffuse fusiform expansion of nerve can occur from subarachnoid dissemination

Malignant thyroid nodule

morphology solid nodules protruding into cystic space no posterior acoustic shadowing incomplete, irregular or thickened halo irregular, lobulated or poorly defined margin microcalcification invasion of adjacent tissues enlarged ipsilateral or bilateral cervical lymph nodes

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)

Type I parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia (hyperparathyroidism) pancreatic islet cell tumors pituitary adenoma Type II A parathyroid hyperplasia adrenal medullary tumor medullary thyroid cancer Type II B medullary thyroid cancer adrenal medullary tumor marfanoid features, multiple cutaneous and mucosal neuromas, neurofibromas and gastrointestinal ganglioneuromas

Cervical lymph nodes

Posterior cervical space

Perivertebral space

Retropharyngeal space

Carotid space

Acute parotitis

Parotid space

Masticator space masses

Masticator space sarcoma

Masticator space chondrosarcoma

CNV3 perineural tumor – masticator space

CNV3 schwannoma – masticator space

Masticator space abscess

CNV3 motor denervation – masticator space

Benign masticator muscle hypertrophy – masticator space

Pterygoid venous plexus asymmetry – masticator space

Masticator space

Pharyngeal mucosal space masses

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma pharyngeal mucosal space

Minor salivary gland malignancy pharyngeal mucosal space

Benign mixed tumor pharyngeal mucosal space

Tonsillar/peritonsillar abscess

Tonsillar inflammation

Pharyngeal mucosal retention cyst

Tornwaldt cyst

Pharyngeal mucosal space

Parapharyngeal space

Parapharyngeal neck space

Neck spaces