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Radiologic Features of Sinonasal Tumors

  • Special Issue: Sinonasal Tract Pathology. Guest Editors: Justin Bishop, MD and Alessandro Franchi, MD
  • Published:
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Abstract

Imaging evaluation of sinonasal tumors is most often conducted with computed tomography, which excels at identifying the effects of these masses on adjacent osseous structures, and magnetic resonance imaging that is ideal for distinguishing pathologic masses from mucosal thickening and fluid that are common in the sinonasal spaces and depicting extension into the surrounding soft tissues, orbits, and intracranial compartment. Accordingly, the two studies are complementary exams and both are commonly utilized in the assessment of these masses. Less commonly, positron emission tomography can provide additional metabolic evaluation of potential metastatic disease in patients with malignant disease. While these imaging modalities are excellent for the portrayal of an abnormality, there is considerable overlap in the imaging appearance of these tumors and specific imaging manifestations linked to a particular tumor are frequently lacking. Therefore, while the mass may be readily identified, narrowing the differential diagnosis to a single specific entity is rare. Nevertheless, cross-sectional imaging plays an essential role in patient management and valuable guidance for successful biopsy or surgical resection in virtually all cases. This review emphasizes essential imaging manifestations that correlate with sinonasal tumors in general and highlight certain features that may implicate a specific disease process.

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Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges contributions of case material to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology from radiology residents worldwide and from colleagues at the Mayo Clinic.

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  1. Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Kelly K. Koeller

  2. Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA

    Kelly K. Koeller

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Correspondence to Kelly K. Koeller.

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Koeller, K.K. Radiologic Features of Sinonasal Tumors. Head and Neck Pathol 10, 1–12 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-016-0686-9

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