2014, Number 1
Utility of Contrast CT Scan vs Other Imaging Studies in the Diagnosis of Neck Carotid Triangle Tumors
Sadek GA
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 8
Page: 26-39
PDF size: 1282.83 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Background: The study of neck tumors includes clinical presentation, imaging, and histopathologic studies. CT scan, magnetic resonance, angiography and doppler are the most useful ones. Tumors in the carotid triangle include paragangliomas, schwannomas and lymphadenopathies.Objective: To evaluate CT scan versus other imaging studies utility for the diagnosis of carotid triangle lesions.
Material and method: A descriptive, observational, retrospective, crosssectional study was conducted with 16 patients. In a blind fashion, presumptional diagnoses were formulated by analyzing clinical presentation, CT scan and other imaging studies findings, and were then compared with histopathologic diagnosis.
Results: Sixty-three percent of paragangliomas were pulsatile masses. In CT findings 14 enhanced with contrast, 57% of these were paragangliomas; 9 separated the carotids, 67% were paragangliomas and the rest were other tumors. With magnetic resonance 3 other tumors were identified like a bilateral paraganglioma which wasn´t noted by other studies. By angiography other tumors were noted in 40% like lymphatic metastases. Diagnostic sensitivity for paragangliomas by CT were 67%, 0% for schwannomas, 50% for metastases. In general 44% of diagnoses were achieved by clinical presentation and 56% by CT. Magnetic resonance, angiography and PET found multiple paragangliomas and metastases, and increased diagnostic accuracy in 81%.
Conclusions: Other imaging studies are necessary besides CT scan when evaluating neck tumors located in the carotid triangle, particularly in case of schwannomas and metastases.
REFERENCES