CT diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma in nasal cavity:a report of 26 cases

Objective To study CT findings of primary malignant lymphoma in nasal cavity and to determine their features.Methods CT findings and clinical data of 26 patients with pathologically proved primary malignant lymphoma in nasal cavity were reviewed retrospectively.Results The study demonstrated that the lesions seen in 26 patients all were non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma (NHL)but the cytologic classification was not done.The lesions generated from nasal vestibule were found in 5 cases,anterior part or superior part of nasal vestibule in 16 cases,whole nasal cavity occuping lesions in 5 cases.In respect of NHL distribution,11 cases were in the left nasal cavities,9 cases were in the right nasal cavities,and 6 cases were in bilateral nasal cavities.The NHL like as tuber mass pattern were found in 19 cases,mucous membrane thicken pattern in 7 cases,“mouse nibbled”bony destruction and absorption in 7 cases.Invading the skin of nasal dorsum and made it thicken were found in 13 cases and subcutaneous fat disappeared in 4 cases.10 patients underwent the surgical treatmen,20 patients underwent the radiotherapy and chemotherapy (including 4 cases by local radiotherapy becouse of recurrence).Conclusion NHLs in nasal cavity have some imaging features,the mass in nasal anterior part without bony erosion and sensitive to radiotherapy should be considered as malignant ones.