CT and MRI diagnosis of adenoyd cystic carcinoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus

CHEN Ruinan; ZHENG Hanpeng; XU Chongyong; QIU Qiande

Abstract：Objective To investigate the CT and MRI characteristics of adenoyd cystic carcinoma of the nasal cavity and para -nasal sinus .Methods The CT and MRI finding of 9 patients with adenoyd adenoyd cystic carcinoma of the nasal cavity and para -nasal sinus proven by operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed .Results Of thoses 9 patients, two located in the ethmoid sinus and frontal sinus , 2 in the maxillary sinus , 2 in the nasal cavity , 1 in the ethmoid sinus and nasal cavity , 1 in the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity , and 1 in the ethmoid sinus.Tumor sizes ranged from 2.1 to 11.5 cm, with an the average of (4.7 ±0.7) cm, of which 6 cases were larger than 5 cm.9 cases underwent CT examination .The CT manifestations included the irregular soft tissue image in 7 cases, the soft tissue shadow of long strip looks like in 1 case, and the multiple patchy in 1 case. There were 6 cases with unclear boundaries and 3 with clear boundaries .The tumor was shown in uneven density in 8 cases, uni-form density in 1 case, equal density in 4 cases, slightly high density in 3 cases, and slightly low density in 2 cases.The tumor was shown to be invasive destruction in 6 cases and expansive destruction of the bone in adjacent bony in 1 case.5 cases were found to be invasion into other sinus cavity and outside of the sinus .5 cases were found to spread along the nerve .Among 6 cases subjected to the enhanced CT , substantial part was obviously strengthened in 4 cases and moderately strengthened in 2 cases.3 cases were subjected to MRI examination , which showed the equal signal or low signal on T 1WI, the slightly higher signal on T2WI, and the high signal on DWI .Conclusion The CT and MRI performances of the sinus and nasal adenoid cystic carcinoma have particularly characteristics .CT and MRI finding combined with clinical manifestations may suggest diagnosis for this disor-der.