CT-based diagnosis in patients presenting with throat pain: A single institutional review.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: To determine if patient demographic data, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests will help predict likelihood of imaging-based diagnosis using CT of the neck performed in the ED for a chief complaint of throat pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Single institutional, retrospective review of 367 CT scans of the neck performed for the evaluation of throat pain in the ED from August 2013 to September 2019. Patients' clinical history, physical exams, lab findings, and imaging results were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 367 CT scans of the neck performed for the evaluation of throat pain included a recorded exam and clinical history. Of these cases, we noted that the presence of cervical lymphadenopathy (OR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.37-5.49), tonsillar findings (OR = 2.94; 95% CI, 1.4-6.57), increased white blood cell count (OR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02-1.15), and temperature (OR = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.1-3.6) were associated with increased likelihood of obtaining a diagnostic CT scan. CONCLUSION: Consideration of tonsillar abnormalities, lymphadenopathy, body temperature, and measured leukocyte count prior to ordering CT scans of the neck for throat pain may increase the diagnostic yield of such exams and decrease CT utilization in the ED.

Posterior hypothalamic involvement on pre-operative MRI predicts hypothalamic obesity in craniopharyngiomas.

PURPOSE: Hypothalamic obesity (HO) is a complication associated with craniopharyngioma (CP). Attempts have been made to perioperatively predict the development of this complication, which can be severe and difficult to treat. METHODS: Patients who underwent first transsphenoidal surgical resection in a single center between February 2005 and March 2019 were screened; those who have had prior surgery or radiation, were aged below 18 years, or did not have follow up body mass index (BMI) after surgery were excluded. Primary end point was BMI within 2 years post-surgery. Hypothalamic involvement (HI) was graded based on preoperative and postoperative imaging with regards to anterior, posterior, left and right involvement. Data on baseline demographics, pre-operative and post-operative MRI, and endocrine function were collected. RESULTS: 45 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most patients in our cohort underwent gross total resection (n = 35 patients). 13 patients were from no HI or anterior HI only group and 22 patients were classified as both anterior (ant) and posterior (post) HI group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the gross total, subtotal or near total resection. Pre-operative BMI and post-operative BMI were significantly higher in patients who had ant and post HI on pre-operative MRI (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Similarly, post-operative BMI at 13-24 months was also significantly higher in the ant and post HI group on post-op MRI (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of baseline adrenal insufficiency, thyroid insufficiency, gonadal insufficiency, IGF-1 levels, hyperprolactinemia, and diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus was more common following surgery among those who had anterior and posterior involvement on pre-operative MRI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HO appears to be predetermined by tumor involvement in the posterior hypothalamus observed on pre-operative MRI. Posterior HI on pre-operative MRI was also associated with the development of diabetes insipidus after surgery.

Paramaxillary CT-guided fine needle aspiration of head and neck lesions: technique, diagnostic yield, and safety profile.

Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsy of deep-seated head and neck lesions can be a less invasive and equally effective alternative to surgical techniques. There are multiple approaches for needle biopsy that target varying spaces within the head and neck while successfully avoiding critical anatomy. In the paramaxillary approach, the needle is advanced through the infrazygomatic buccal space, in between the maxilla and mandible. In this study, we examine the safety and diagnostic yield of FNA without core needle biopsy performed via the paramaxillary approach in 19 patients yielding 20 fine needle aspirates between 2014 and 2022. Of the fine needle aspirates, 85.0% (17/20) were diagnostic. Concordant histopathologic diagnosis was obtained in 100% (17/17) diagnostic fine needle aspirates. There were no postprocedural complications.

Benign bony tumors of the paranasal sinuses, orbit, and skull base.

Benign bony tumors of the skull base and paranasal sinuses are uncommon entities, with an overall higher incidence in males. Benign bony tumors may lead to local expansion with resultant mass effect of potentially critical structures. Some benign bony tumors may undergo malignant transformation. This article reviews the presentation and management of benign bone tumors of the skull base and paranasal sinuses with special consideration to involvement of the adjacent orbit, intracranial and critical neurovascular structures. This review covers tumor incidence, location, gross and histologic appearance as well as radiographic findings, treatment, and recurrence rates. Tumors discussed in this article include osteochondromas, osteomas, osteoid osteomas, aneurysmal bone cysts, fibrous dysplasia, giant cell tumors, cemento-ossifying fibroma, ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, ecchordosis physaliphora, chondromyxoid fibroma, primary chronic osteomyelitis, primary chronic osteomyelitis, osteochondromyxoma, and dense bone islands.

Best Practices: Application of NI-RADS for Posttreatment Surveillance Imaging of Head and Neck Cancer.

Imaging surveillance is an important component of posttreatment management of head and neck cancers. There is variability in the surveillance regimen used by various practitioners and institutions, with no official National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for patients showing no symptoms beyond 6 months posttreatment. Moreover, imaging of the neck after treatment is a complex examination with significant interreader heterogeneity, particularly in terms of the manner in which degree of suspicion for disease recurrence is expressed. The Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS) was introduced by the American College of Radiology (ACR) in 2018 as a practical guide for the interpreting radiologist. NI-RADS is a proposed interpretive framework that can be applied to any standardized or institutional surveillance imaging protocol. NI-RADS simplifies communication between radiologists and referring clinicians and provides management guidance linked to specific levels of suspicion. The ACR NI-RADS Committee also provided general best practice recommendations for imaging surveillance modality and timing in the 2018 white paper. This article will review existing literature regarding choice of modality and timeline for surveillance in treated cancer of the head and neck. NI-RADS will then be presented as an approach to imaging reporting, interpretation, and design of next steps in management.

Comparison of the upper airway dynamics of oronasal and nasal masks with positive airway pressure treatment using cine magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: It is known that oronasal masks are not as effective at opening the upper airway compared to nasal only continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. However, the physiological mechanism for this difference in efficacy is not known; although, it has been hypothesized to involve the retroglossal and/or retropalatal region of the upper airway. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in retroglossal and retropalatal anterior-posterior space with the use of oronasal vs. nasal CPAP masks using real-time cine magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). METHODS: Ten subjects (eight men, two women) with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were given cMRI with both nasal and oronasal CPAP masks. Each subject was imaged with each interface at pressures of 5, 10, and 15 cm of H2O, while in the supine position along the sagittal plane. RESULTS: The oronasal mask produced significantly less airway opening in the retropalatal region of the upper airway compared to the nasal mask interface. During exhalation, mask style had a significant effect on anterior-posterior distance p = 0.016. No differences were found in the retroglossal region between mask styles. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed previous findings showing differences in treatment efficacy between oronasal and nasal mask styles. We have shown anatomic evidence that the nasal mask is more effective in opening the upper airway compared to the oronasal mask in the retropalatal region.

Retrospective Assessment of the Utility of Imaging, Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy, and Intraoperative Frozen Section in the Management of Parotid Neoplasms: The Weill Cornell Medical College Experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Preoperative identification of malignant parotid lesions remains challenging, and thus, some surgeons use frozen section (FS) to assist them in their decision making. We evaluated the pathologic and cost benefit of FS after fine-needle aspiration (FNA) at our institution. METHODS: We assessed medical data for 260 patients undergoing parotidectomy with FS. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for radiology, FNA, and FS. RESULTS: The sensitivities, specificities, and accuracies of FNA and FS were 75.0, 96.4, and 93.2%, and 75.0, 100, and 96.8%, respectively. FS detected 0% of FNA false negatives and 80% of false positives. The additional pathology charge for FS alone per correctly identified benign lesion after a positive FNA was USD 1,443. CONCLUSION: FNA and FS are more reliable in the prognostication of the final pathology than radiology. At our center, FS appears to be of limited clinical use after benign FNAs, but may be more useful after positive, indeterminate, and nondiagnostic FNAs.

How to perform parathyroid 4D CT: tips and traps for technique and interpretation.

Parathyroid four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) is an imaging technique for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas that involves multidetector CT image acquisition during two or more contrast enhancement phases. Four-dimensional CT offers an alternative or additional tool in the evaluation of primary hyperparathyroidism. The purpose of this article is to describe the 4D CT technique and provide a practical guide to the radiologist for imaging interpretation. The article will discuss the rationale for imaging, approach to interpretation, imaging findings, and pitfalls.

CT angiography in the detection of carotid body enlargement in patients with hypertension and heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: The carotid body (CB) has previously been found to be enlarged and hyperactive in various disease states such as heart failure (HF), hypertension (HTN), and respiratory disease. Evaluation of CB size in these disease states using imaging has not been performed. The purpose of this case-control study was to compare CB sizes in patients with HF and HTN with those of controls using CT angiography. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 323 consecutive patients who had neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) exams in 2011. Following extensive review, 17 HF and HTN patients and 14 controls were identified. Two radiologists blinded to the patient disease status made consensus bilateral carotid body (CB) measurements on the CTA exams using a previously described standardized protocol. CB axial cross-sectional areas were compared between HF and HTN cases and controls using a paired t test. RESULTS: The right CB demonstrated a mean cross-sectional area of 2.79 mm(2) in HF and HTN patients vs. 1.40 mm(2) in controls (p = 0.02). The left CB demonstrated a mean cross-sectional area of 3.13 mm(2) in HF and HTN patients vs. 1.53 mm in controls (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Our results provide imaging evidence that the carotid bodies are enlarged in patients with HF and HTN. Our case-control series suggests that this enlargement can be detected on neck CTA.

Segmentation of Vestibular Schwannomas on Postoperative Gadolinium-Enhanced T1-Weighted and Noncontrast T2-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Deep Learning.

OBJECTIVE: Surveillance of postoperative vestibular schwannomas currently relies on manual segmentation and measurement of the tumor by content experts, which is both labor intensive and time consuming. We aimed to develop and validate deep learning models for automatic segmentation of postoperative vestibular schwannomas on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (GdT1WI) and noncontrast high-resolution T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (HRT2WI). STUDY DESIGN: A supervised machine learning approach using a U-Net model was applied to segment magnetic resonance imaging images into pixels representing vestibular schwannoma and background pixels. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Our retrospective data set consisted of 122 GdT1WI and 122 HRT2WI studies in 82 postoperative adult patients with a vestibular schwannoma treated with subtotal surgical resection between September 1, 2007, and April 17, 2018. Forty-nine percent of our cohort was female, the mean age at the time of surgery was 49.8 years, and the median time from surgery to follow-up scan was 2.26 years. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tumor areas were manually segmented in axial images and used as ground truth for training and evaluation of the model. We measured the Dice score of the predicted segmentation results in comparison to manual segmentations from experts to assess the model's accuracy. RESULTS: The GdT1WI model achieved a Dice score of 0.89, and the HRT2WI model achieved a Dice score of 0.85. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that postoperative vestibular schwannomas can be accurately segmented on GdT1WI and HRT2WI without human intervention using deep learning. This artificial intelligence technology has the potential to improve the postoperative surveillance and management of patients with vestibular schwannomas.

Impingement of the Thyroid Cartilage on the Carotid Causing Clicking Larynx Syndrome and Stroke.

We present the case of a patient with a recent history of ischemic stroke who presented with clicking larynx syndrome, a condition in which clicking noises in the larynx can be provoked by movement of the head and neck. Diagnostic imaging revealed unusual development and posterior angulation of the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage that potentially was causing trauma to the left common carotid artery. We deduced that symptomatic impingement of the carotid artery by the thyroid cartilage was not only the cause of the patient's clicking larynx syndrome, but also suspected to be the cause of her prior strokes due to repetitive trauma resulting in thrombus. The patient was managed surgically with thyroplasty and transcervical resection of the left greater cornu of the thyroid cartilage with resolution of her symptoms. Anatomical displacement of the thyroid cartilage can manifest as clicking larynx syndrome as well as cause mechanical injury to the carotid artery, resulting in turbulent flow, possible thrombosis, and stroke. Laryngoscope, 132:1410-1413, 2022.

Magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in clinically suspected acute transient ischemic attack and acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerotic plaque rupture is thought to cause transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS). Pathological hallmarks of these plaques have been identified through observational studies. Although generally accepted, the relationship between cerebral thromboembolism and in situ atherosclerotic plaque morphology has never been directly observed noninvasively in the acute setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive acutely symptomatic patients referred for stroke protocol magnetic resonance imaging/angiography underwent additional T1- and T2-weighted carotid bifurcation imaging with the use of a 3-dimensional technique with blood signal suppression. Two blinded reviewers performed plaque gradings according to the American Heart Association classification system. Discharge outcomes and brain magnetic resonance imaging results were obtained. Image quality for plaque characterization was adequate in 86 of 106 patients (81%). Eight TIA/IS patients with noncarotid pathogenesis were excluded, yielding 78 study patients (38 men and 40 women with a mean age of 64.3 years, SD 14.7) with 156 paired watershed vessel/cerebral hemisphere observations. Thirty-seven patients had 40 TIA/IS events. There was a significant association between type VI plaque (demonstrating cap rupture, hemorrhage, and/or thrombosis) and ipsilateral TIA/IS (P<0.001). A multiple logistic regression model including standard Framingham risk factors and type VI plaque was constructed. Type VI plaque was the dominant outcome-associated observation achieving significance (P<0.0001; odds ratio, 11.66; 95% confidence interval, 5.31 to 25.60). CONCLUSIONS: In situ type VI carotid bifurcation region plaque identified by magnetic resonance imaging is associated with ipsilateral acute TIA/IS as an independent identifier of events, thereby supporting the dominant disease pathophysiology.

Traumatic ptosis and mydriasis masking Horner syndrome from an internal carotid pseudoaneurysm.

A 46-year-old woman presented after blunt facial trauma for evaluation of bilateral orbital floor fractures, which were confirmed by clinical and radiographic examination. In addition, findings of right traumatic mydriasis and left traumatic ptosis were seen. On close investigation, miosis was noted on the side of the traumatic ptosis. Therefore, a workup for Horner syndrome was obtained, including neuro-ophthalmic consultation and magnetic resonance angiography of the neck. The magnetic resonance angiography showed an internal carotid pseudoaneurysm, an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of blunt carotid injury. The authors describe an interesting case where a life-threatening diagnosis was nearly masked by more common, benign pathology.

Parathyroid Imaging: Four-dimensional Computed Tomography, Sestamibi, and Ultrasonography.

Primary hyperparathyroidism results most commonly from a parathyroid adenoma, a benign parathyroid tumor that causes high levels of parathyroid hormone production. Given recent advances in surgical techniques allowing more focused, minimally invasive procedures, presurgical identification of candidate operative tissue has become increasingly useful in avoidance of 4-gland exploration. Imaging modalities for identification of parathyroid adenoma include ultrasonography, parathyroid scintigraphy, four-dimensional computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. This article discusses technical and interpretive approaches for the available modalities, and reviews their strengths and weaknesses. Updates to the individual modalities and approaches for problem solving in lesion detection are also addressed.

Interrater Reliability of NI-RADS on Posttreatment PET/Contrast-enhanced CT Scans in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose To evaluate the interrater reliability among radiologists examining posttreatment head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) fluorodeoxyglucose PET/contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scans using Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS). Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, images in 80 patients with HNSCC who underwent posttreatment surveillance PET/CECT and immediate prior comparison CECT or PET/CECT (from June 2014 to July 2016) were uploaded to the American College of Radiology's cloud-based website, Cortex. Eight radiologists from seven institutions with variable NI-RADS experience independently evaluated each case and assigned an appropriate prose description and NI-RADS category for the primary site and the neck site. Five of these individuals were experienced readers (> 5 years of experience), and three were novices (< 5 years of experience). In total, 640 lexicon-based and NI-RADS categories were assigned to lesions among the 80 included patients by the eight radiologists. Light generalization of Cohen κ for interrater reliability was performed. Results Of the 80 included patients (mean age, 63 years ± 10 [standard deviation]), there were 58 men (73%); 60 patients had stage IV HNSCC (75%), and the most common tumor location was oropharynx (n = 32; 40%). Light κ for lexicon was 0.30 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.36) at the primary site and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.37) at the neck site. Light κ for NI-RADS category was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.63) at the primary site and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.48, 0.69) at the neck site. Percent agreement between lexicon and correlative NI-RADS category was 84.4% (540 of 640) at the primary site and 92.6% (593 of 640) at the neck site. There was no significant difference in interobserver agreement among the experienced versus novice raters. Conclusion Moderate agreement was achieved among eight radiologists using NI-RADS at posttreatment HNSCC surveillance imaging. Keywords: CT, PET/CT, Head/Neck, Neck, Neoplasms-Primary, Observer Performance Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2021.

Skull Base 3D Modeling of Rigid Buttress for Gasket-Seal Closure Using Operative Endoscopic Imaging: Cadaveric Feasibility.

Surgical defect closure following endonasal transsphenoidal tumor resection is a critical component of procedural success. Three-dimensional (3D) modeling of relevant skull base anatomy during resection can potentially facilitate design of a custom rigid buttress for gasket-seal closure; however, access to conventional cross-sectional imaging intraoperatively is limited and cumbersome. Endoscopic imaging, by contrast, is always available. This work demonstrates the feasibility of 3D modeling of the visible skull base through structure-from-motion photogrammetric postprocessing techniques, providing a suitable template to design a gasket-seal buttress. Additionally, endoscopic 3D reconstruction of skull base surface anatomy may represent a more robust depiction of the surgical defect than is available by conventional 3D modeling with computed tomography, which suboptimally recapitulates very thin bones and mucosal surfaces typical of this regional anatomy.

Beals syndrome with middle and inner ear dysplasia and encephalocele: A case report and review of imaging findings.

A 10-year-old male with history of Beals syndrome presented with hearing loss and was found to have middle and inner ear dysplasia and left temporal encephalocele on imaging. Beals syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by a mutation in the fibrillin-2 gene. Skeletal manifestations of Beals have been reported, including anomalies of the long bones, calvarium, and spine. External ear abnormalities with "crumpled ear" deformity are seen in the majority of patients. This is the first case to report imaging findings of the middle and inner ear in a patient with Beals.

Rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes rhombencephalitis in an immunocompetent patient by multiplexed PCR.

A 46-year-old previously healthy man presented with 1 week of headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. He was found to have cranial nerve deficits, his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) demonstrated a lymphocytic pleocytosis and brain MRI suggested rhombencephalitis. Although Gram stains and cultures of his CSF did not identify a pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes DNA was detected by the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis panel within 2 hours of performing a lumbar puncture. He was treated with ampicillin and gentamicin and had a near-complete recovery. This case highlights the importance of recognising L. monocytogenes infection as a cause of acute cranial nerve impairment with MRI findings suggestive of brainstem encephalitis. It also highlights the frequently atypical CSF profile and low yield of culture in L. monocytogenes rhombencephalitis and the value of multiplex PCR testing of CSF to rapidly identify this pathogen and permit targeted therapy.

ACR Neck Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (NI-RADS): A White Paper of the ACR NI-RADS Committee.

Imaging surveillance after treatment for head and neck cancer is challenging because of complicated resection and reconstruction surgery, in addition to posttreatment changes from radiation and chemotherapy. The posttreatment neck is often a source of anxiety for diagnostic radiologists, leading to suboptimal reporting and no standardized guidance for next management steps. Nevertheless, imaging is critical for detecting submucosal recurrences in a timely manner, so that patients remain candidates for salvage surgery. In 2016, the ACR convened the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (NI-RADS) Committee with the goals to (1) provide recommendations for surveillance imaging; (2) produce a lexicon to distinguish between benign posttreatment change and residual or recurrent tumor in the posttreatment neck; and (3) propose a NI-RADS template for reporting on the basis of this lexicon with defined levels of suspicion and management recommendations. In this article, the authors present the ACR NI-RADS Committee's recommendations, which provide guidance regarding the management of patients after treatment for head and neck cancer.

Endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of intrinsic third ventricular craniopharyngioma: surgical results.

OBJECTIVEIntrinsic third ventricular craniopharyngiomas (IVCs) have been reported by some authors to "pose the greatest surgical challenge" of all craniopharyngiomas (CPAs). A variety of open microsurgical approaches have historically been used for resection of these tumors. Despite increased utilization of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for resection of CPAs in recent years, many authors continue to recommend against use of the EEA for resection of IVCs. In this paper, the authors present the largest series to date utilizing the EEA to remove IVCs.METHODSThe authors reviewed a prospectively acquired database of the EEA for resection of IVCs over 14 years at Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Preoperative MR images were examined independently by two neurosurgeons and a neuroradiologist to identify IVCs. Pre- and postoperative endocrinological, ophthalmological, radiographic, and other morbidities were determined from retrospective chart review and volumetric radiographic analysis.RESULTSBetween January 2006 and August 2017, 10 patients (4 men, 6 women) ranging in age from 26 to 67 years old, underwent resection of an IVC utilizing the EEA. Preoperative endocrinopathy was present in 70% and visual deterioration in 60%. Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 9 (90%) of 10 patients, with achievement of near-total (98%) resection in the remaining patient. Pathology was papillary in 30%. Closure incorporated a "gasket-seal" technique with nasoseptal flap coverage and either lumbar drainage (9 patients) or a ventricular drain (1 patient). Postoperatively, complete anterior and posterior pituitary insufficiency was present in 90% and 70% of patients, respectively. In 4 patients with normal vision prior to surgery, 3 had stable vision following tumor resection. One patient noted a new, incongruous, left inferior homonymous quadrantanopsia postoperatively. In the 6 patients who presented with compromised vision, 2 reported stable vision following surgery. Each of the remaining 4 patients noted significant improvement in vision after tumor resection, with complete restoration of normal vision in 1 patient. Aside from the single case (10%) of visual deterioration referenced above, there were no instances of postoperative neurological decline. Postoperative CSF leakage occurred in 1 morbidly obese patient who required reoperation for revision of closure. After a mean follow-up of 46.8 months (range 4-131 months), tumor recurrence was observed in 2 patients (20%), one of whom was treated with radiation and the other with chemotherapy. Both of these patients had previously undergone GTR of the IVC.CONCLUSIONSThe 10 patients described in this report represent the largest number of patients with IVC treated using EEA for resection to date. EEA for resection of IVC is a safe and efficacious operative strategy that should be considered a surgical option in the treatment of this challenging subset of tumors.