Imaging of perineural tumor spread from palatal carcinoma.
Carcinomas of the hard or soft palate are known to spread perineurally along palatine branches of the maxillary nerve. Imaging of perineural tumor spread from the palate has been underemphasized in the imaging literature. We report the findings from eight patients in whom spread from primary cancers of the palate was seen along the palatine nerves. Indications of perineural spread include enlargement or excessive enhancement of a nerve, or abnormal density/signal intensity, enhancement, or widening of the pterygopalatine fossa, cavernous sinus, or Meckel's cave.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
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Ginsberg
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DeMonte
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008442:Maxillary Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010159:Palate / Q000294:innervation*; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed