CT and MRI findings of the primary NK/T cell lymphoma in nasal cavity
LUO Zhao-yang1, ZHANG Kuan2
1. Department of Radiology, Hunan Provincial Schistosomiasis Disease Research Institute Affiliated Xiangyue Hospital, Yueyang Hunan 414000, China;
2. Department of Radiology, Red Cross Hospital of Qinghai, Xining 810000, China
Abstract：To study the CT and MRI features of primary NK/T cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in nasal cavity so as to promote the diagnostic accuracy. Materials and Methods: CT and/or MRI findings of 16 cases with nasal cavity NK/T cell lymphoma verified by pathology were analyzed retrospectively. Sixteen cases were examined with CT plain scans and 2 of them were done with CT contrast scans. Eight of the 16 cases were examined with MRI plain scans and 1 of them were examined together with MRI contrast scans. Results: Of all the 16 cases, the tumors involving unilateral nasal cavity in 6, bilateral in 10. The tumor was confined in the nasal cavity in 4, and with extranasal extension in 12. The tumor involvement of adjacent structures in 13 and into subcutaneous soft tissue of the nasal labial fold or face in 8, with the bony destruction in 9. CT showed the nasal cavity was filled with soft tissues and spread along the nasal mucosa, there were mild-to-moderate heterogeneous enhancement on post contrast CT. On T1WI showed the tumors were homogeneous and isointense, the signal intensity was similar to or slightly lower than muscle. On T2WI the tumors showed slightly heterogeneous and hyperintense, the signal intensity was higher than muscle but lower than sinonasal mucosa, there were mild-to-moderate heterogeneous enhancement after gadolinium injection. Conclusion: Primary NK/T cell lymphoma of nasal cavity has certain characteristics in its imaging appearances, the imaging findings can suggest the diagnosis and show ranges and degrees of the lesions and provide more accurate informations for clinical staging.
2008, Vol. 19 
