title: Impact of newer generation multidetector computed tomography on the diagnosis of abscesses in the head and neck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand how newer generation multidetector computed tomographic (NGCT) scanner technology (≥ 16 slices) has affected the imaging characteristics of head and neck abscesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients with a head and neck abscess who underwent a soft tissue neck computed tomographic (CT) scan were identified from September 1, 2001, to December 1, 2008. The degree of rim enhancement, delta (Δ), was graded using mean Hounsfield units (HU) from five peripheral points and five central points from a representative CT slice. The difference was then calculated and compared between older generation computed tomography (OGCT; < 16 slices) and newer generation multidetector computed tomography (NGCT; ≥ 16 slices) using the Student t-test. A p value < .05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 20 were scanned with OGCT and 28 were scanned with NGCT. The mean peripheral point values were OGCT  =  78 HU (95% CI 71-86 HU), NGCT  =  74 HU (95% CI 68-80 HU); p  =  .3. The mean central point values were OGCT  =  24 HU (95% CI 21-28 HU), NGCT  =  26 HU (95% CI 21-31 HU), p  =  0.7. The mean delta values (mean peripheral HU--mean central HU) were OGCT  =  52 HU (95% CI 43-61 HU), NGCT  =  46 HU (95% CI 41-52 HU), p  =  .2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no significant difference between OGCT and NGCT in the amount of rim enhancement seen on CT scans of head and neck abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
authors.forename: John J W
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rudmik
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lysack
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dort
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D009333:Neck; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult