CT of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from maxillary carcinoma.
CT findings for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in 25 patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and with no prior treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Four lateral retropharyngeal node metastases (16%, 4/25) could be identified by CT. All retropharyngeal metastatic nodes were located between the ipsilateral internal carotid artery and the longus colli muscle at the level of the first cervical vertebral body. The metastatic nodes ranged from 8 mm to 35 mm in size at the long axis. The risk of retropharyngeal node metastasis depends on the degree of carcinoma involvement to the posterior nasal cavity, the posterior ethmoid sinuses, the sphenoid sinuses, the palate (soft and hard) and the nasopharynx. This study indicates that CT is useful for detecting these lymph node metastases.
Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
J
J
Watarai
Y
Y
Seino
M
M
Kobayashi
M
M
Shindo
T
T
Kato
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed