CT and MRI Diagnosis of Masticator Space Lesions / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the CT and MRI features of masticator space lesions.Methods All patients(43 cases) were examined with CT (28 cases) or MRI(10 cases),and 4 cases underwent both CT and MR examination.Results 9 cases of masticator space infection were found,which had characteristic appearances and patterns of widely spread on CT and MRI,and CT was better in detecting mandibular osteomyelitis.Primary tumors of the space included 6 cases of rhabdomyosarcomas,5 cases of angioma,4 cases of osteosarcomas.Most of them had the particular CT or MRI features.In 19 cases of metastasis of the space,most came from surrounding structures,especially from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck,and penetrating deeply into the muscles or ramus of masticator space.Conclusion The masticator space lesions(infection and most of tumors) are of characteristic features on CT and MRI.