High-resolution computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses, pharynx and related regions : impact of CT-identification on diagnosis and patient-management

1. Introduction.- 2. Technique.- 2.1 Equipment.- 2.2 Scanogram.- 2.2.1 Purposes.- 2.2.1.1 Patient positioning and repositioning.- 2.2.1.2 Registration of slice positions.- 2.2.1.3 Diagnostic use of the scanogram.- 2.3 Positioning.- 2.4 Field of view and diameter of scanned area.- 2.5 Technique factor selection.- 2.6 Contrast media.- 3. Anatomy.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Nasal cavity.- 3.3 Paranasal sinuses.- 3.3.1 Frontal sinus.- 3.3.2 Ethmoid sinus.- 3.3.3 Maxillary sinus.- 3.3.4 Sphenoid sinus.- 3.4 Pharynx.- 3.4.1 Nasopharynx.- 3.4.2 Oropharynx.- 3.4.3 Hypopharynx.- 3.5 Oral cavity.- 3.5.1 Floor of the mouth and tongue.- 3.6 Spaces.- 3.6.1 Parapharyngeal space.- 3.6.2 Retromaxillary space.- 3.6.2.1 Infratemporal fossa.- 3.6.2.2 Pterygopalatine fossa.- 3.6.2.3 Pterygoid fossa.- 3.6.3 Submandibular space.- 3.7 Parotid gland.- 3.8 Lymphatic drainage of the head and neck.- 4. CT-identification.- 4.1 Axial sections.- 4.1.1 Nose, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses.- 4.1.1.1 Level of frontal sinus.- 4.1.1.2 Level of nasal bone and orbit.- 4.1.1.3 Level of maxillary sinus, retromaxillary space, upper part of nasopharynx and parapharyngeal space.- 4.1.1.4 Nasopharynx.- 4.1.1.5 Parapharyngeal space.- 4.1.1.6 Parotid gland.- 4.1.2 Oropharynx, oral cavity, tongue and floor of the mouth, hypopharynx.- 4.1.3 Identification of lymph nodes on the axial sections.- 4.2 Coronal sections.- 5. Pathology of paranasal sinuses.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Review of the literature.- 5.3 Patients and methods.- 5.4 Results.- 5.5 Discussion.- 5.6 Illustrative patients and pathology.- 5.7 Conclusions.- 6. Pathology of pharynx, nasal and oral cavity.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Review of the literature.- 6.3 Patients and methods.- 6.4 Results.- 6.5 Discussion.- 6.6 Illustrative patients and pathology.- 6.7 Conclusions.- 7. Summary and Conclusions.