[Value of MR imaging and MR angiography in the differential diagnosis of carotid space tumour].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the imaging features of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2D time of flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) and study the value in the differential diagnosis and surgical planning for carotid space tumors.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with suspected pulsatile carotid space mass were imaged by MRI and 2D TOF MRA from 1996 to 2003. Its characteristic findings were analyzed for lesion shape, margin, signal intensity, angle of common carotid bifurcation, and the relationship between the great vessels and carotid space mass.


RESULTS
Of the 26 patients, 22 were verified histopathologically, including 15 carotid body tumors (1 patient had bilateral carotid body tumors), 4 carotid artery aneurysms, 3 schwannomas, and 1 metastatic carcinoma. The rest four patients had clinical pseudomasses proved by MRI and MRA as considerable dilated or tortuous carotid artery as compared with the contralateral one. Combined MRI and MRA assessment of carotid body tumors and carotid artery aneurysm yielded an accuracy of 100%. It was also revealed that the anatomy shown on the MRI and axial MRA source images was consistent with that found by surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI in combination with MRA is considered as non-invasive imaging technique for the evaluation of carotid space tumor showing superiority to other modalities in the differential diagnosis between vascular versus non-vascular tumours. This method may take the place of traumatic carotid angiography.
Liu
Pei-fang
PF
Department of Radiology, Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, China.
Li
Xin
X
Bao
Run-xian
RX
Liu
Jing-zu
JZ
Ge
Zheng-jin
ZJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis