ABSTRACT
Objectives: Inflammations of the maxillofacial regions are a frequent occurrence. They areusually of odontogenic origin, but maxillofacial swelling could also have non-odontogenic causes. Their clinical presentation is worrisome for the patient, presenting as swellings of the region with rapid and significant expansion to adjacent areas due to the thin and delicate nature of the regional soft tissues. Materials and methods: The characteristic features are discussed upon the presentation of a case series of the most common types of inflammation seen in the region. Results: In most hospital emergency departments, ultrasound scanning is readily accessible, and typically constitutes the first-line imaging modality for this entity. Nevertheless, the role of ultrasound imaging is limited in cases with deep extension of the inflammation, where cross-sectional imaging with CT or MRI will be the modality of choice. This manuscript aims to present the characteristic features of various inflammatory conditions of the maxillofacial area seen on ultrasonography. Conclusions: Even though maxillofacial inflammations are often treated without imaging in their initial phase, ultrasound can provide aninexpensive, easy-to-use, and readily available alternative that best visualizes the characteristics and expansion patterns of the lesions, based on their origin and area of initial presentation.
ABSTRACT
Glomus tumors or paragangliomas are rare benign neoplasms which are very uncommon in the head and neck region. They grow slowly from paraganglion cells, which serve various regulatory tasks in the body and form the basis of the extra-adrenal neuroendocrine system. They have benign properties, but tend to cause local invasion and expansion to adjacent anatomic structures. The majority of glomus tumor cases are incidental findings, since the clinical symptoms are mostly absent. The purpose of this paper is to distinguish the ultrasonographic features of different glomus tumors located within the neck region, based on their varying anatomical location and space occupying behavior.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare the 4th edition 1992 and 6th edition 2002 of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging systems, to evaluate the paranasopharyngeal structures and lymph node involvement, and to define the prognostic significance of the above factors to overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: CT images of 162 patients, who were diagnosed with NPC and received irradiation alone or chemotherapy and irradiation, were retrospectively reviewed. CT scans, performed prior to and after the completion of treatment, were reviewed. RESULTS: The parapharyngeal space was found to be involved very commonly (98%). 50 of 162 patients (31%) displayed parapharyngeal extension of the tumor to degree A, 59 patients (36%) showed degree B, and 50 patients (31%) degree C nasopharyngeal extension. According to the AJCC 6th edition 2002, patients were distributed into stages IIA, IIB, III, IVA, and IVB. By contrast, using the AJCC 4th edition 1992, patients were distributed into stages III and IV only. After a median follow up of 71.1 months, median survival was 60.7 months, with a 2-year survival rate of 71.3% and a 3-year survival rate of 62.2%. Multivariate analysis identified age, degree of parapharyngeal lateral extension, cavernous-sinus-infiltration, and size of infiltrated lymph nodes as independent prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSION: The 6th revision of TNM staging reported herein, provides a more uniform distribution of patients between stages. The degree of tumor extension into the parapharyngeal space should be considered in future TNM staging revisions.
