CT features of lobular capillary hemangioma of the nasal cavity.
OBJECTIVE
Lobular capillary hemangioma is a benign capillary proliferation of unknown etiology. To our knowledge, no comprehensive review of imaging findings of LCHNC has been presented. Thus, we investigated characteristic CT features of LCHNC.


METHODS
This retrospective study included 6 patients (2 men and 4 women; age range, 30-65 years; mean age, 49.2 years) with histologically proved LCHNC. We evaluated the size, site of origin, attenuation on NECT, degree and pattern of enhancement, and bony changes.


RESULTS
The LCHNC lesion was 13.0-45.0 mm (average, 25.0 mm) in diameter. These lesions arose from the inferior turbinate in 5 (83.3%) patients and the anterior nasal septum in 1 (16.7%). Compared with the masticator muscles, the LCHNC lesion was hypoattenuating in 2 (33.3%) and isoattenuating on NECT in 4 (66.7%) patients. In 5 (83.3%) patients, the LCHNC lesion consisted of 2 distinct areas on CECT: a lobular intensely enhancing mass and an iso- or hypoattenuating cap of variable thickness around the intensely enhancing mass. Bony changes included erosion in 3 (50.0%) and displacement in 2 (33.3%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
CT features of LCHNC consist of an intensely enhancing mass and an iso- or hypoattenuating cap on CECT. The inferior turbinate seems to be a common site of origin, and bony changes are not uncommon features of LCHNC. CT is useful not only in identifying the site of origin and assessing the extent but also in suggesting the nature of LCHNC.
Lee
D G
DG
Department of Radiology, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
Lee
S K
SK
Chang
H W
HW
Kim
J Y
JY
Lee
H J
HJ
Lee
S M
SM
Kwon
J H
JH
Woo
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery