CT and MRI features of head and neck inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors

Objective To investigate CT and MRI manifestations of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT)located in head and neck.Methods Imaging and clinical data of 12patients with IMT proved by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Among 12patients,9underwent plain CT scanning,7of them underwent enhanced CT scanning,while 4patients underwent both plain and enhanced MR scanning.Results IMT in all the 12cases present as single lesion,located in maxilla,soft tissue of maxillofacial region,maxillary sinus and neck(each n=2),and in mandible,orbit,zygomatic bone and parotid gland(each n=1).The volume of the lesions ranged from 1.0cm×1.0cm×1.0cm to 5.0cm×3.8cm×4.8cm.Plain CT showed 7lesions with homogeneous density and 2with hotergeneous density,with CT value ranged from 30HU to 85HU.Enhanced CT showed slight or moderate enhancement in 6cases and significant enhancement in 1case.Bone absorption and destruction with oppressive or expansive osteolysis changes were observed in 6cases,while no bone sclerosis nor periosteal reaction was found.In MRI,the lesions were shown as soft tissue masses with unclear border,manifested as iso-hypointensity on T1WI and slightly iso-hyperintensity on T2WI.After administration of contrast,the lesions obviously and homogeneously enhanced in 3cases,while inhomogeneously enhanced in 1case.Conclusion CT and MRI can clearly demonstrate the location and dimension of IMT and the changes of surrounding tissues without specificity.The final diagnosis relies on pathology.