The exploration into the imaging manifestations of esthesioneuroblastoma on CT and MRI

WANG Lei; FANG Meng-shi; WU Yu-zhen; XIA Jia-lin; CHEN Zhen; ZHOU Wei-en; TU Yan-ran; ZHONG Qun

Abstract：Objective To investigate the CT and MRI manifestations and clinical characteristics of esthesioneuroblasto‐ma .Methods CT (10/22) and MRI(12/22) findings of 22 cases with olfactory neuroblastoma proved by pathology were analyzed retrospectively ,and particular attention was paid to tumor location ,form ,extension ,enhancement pattern and Kadish stage .Results The cases included 14 males and 8 females ,and the mean age was 52 years( ranged from 9 to 76 years) .The locations of the tumors included the left side of the nasal cavity 11 cases (11/22) ,the right side of the nasal cavity was found in 9 cases (9/22) and anterior skull in 2 cases (2/22) .7 cases (7/22) were regular in shape ,while the 15 cases (15/22) were irregular .10 cases (10/22) had plain CT scan that showed mass with soft tissue density .CT value was 45 ~ 58 HU .3 of them were obviously enhancement after contrast‐enhanced CT scan .CT value was 105 ~ 114 HU . 12 cases underwent routine plain scan and enhanced scan .MRI showed equal signal of soft tissue in 3 patients (3/12) .9 cases exhibited T1 uneven slow signal .The mass in 12 cases all showed T2 high signal .The signals of 2 cases (2/12) were heterogeneous .The signal of 10 cases (10/12) were uniform .Contrast enhancement was either moderate or obvious ,and all of variable uniformity .The tumors involving maxillary and ethmoid bone ,the septum ,or skull base bony destruction could be seen in 16 cases (16/22) ,with 7 cases (7/22) manifesting cervical lymph node metastasis .There were 6 cases of phase A ,4 cases of the phase B ,and 12 cases of phase C .Conclusion CT and MRI can show ENB image characteristics and infringement ,and staging diagnosis .