CT features of foreign body granulomas after cosmetic paraffin injection into the cervicofacial area.
OBJECTIVE
Cosmetic injection of paraffin into cervicofacial tissues has been practiced in the past, especially in Asia, resulting in foreign body granuloma (paraffinoma). The purpose of this study was to describe the computed tomography (CT) findings of cervicofacial paraffinomas.


METHODS
CT images of 5 patients (4 women and 1 man; age range, 54-80 years; mean age, 67.6 years), who had received direct paraffin injections into cervicofacial tissues, were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The lesions were bilateral and located in the subcutaneous fat layer of the cheek (n = 5), buccal space (n = 2), periorbital area (n = 1), periauricular area (n = 1), neck (n = 1), and nose (n = 1). The predominant CT features were speckled mass formation (n = 3), fat-density nodule (n = 5), high-density nodule (n = 5), nodular calcification (n = 5), and rim calcification (n = 4).


CONCLUSIONS
Paraffinomas in the cervicofacial region have specific CT features that are distinct from other soft tissue masses.
Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. evee0914@chollian.net
Dong Hyeon
DH
Gu
Dae Young
DY
Yoon
Suk Ki
SK
Chang
Kyoung Ja
KJ
Lim
Ji Hyeon
JH
Cha
Young Lan
YL
Seo
Eun Joo
EJ
Yun
Chul Soon
CS
Choi
Sang Hoon
SH
Bae
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002610:Cheek / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005145:Face / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010232:Paraffin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D003358:Cosmetics; D010232:Paraffin