[Neck tumors: possible reasons for radiologic misdiagnosis]

Neck tumors may be caused by a variety of both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions in organs and tissues. US and CT are successfully used to detect neck pathology but misdiagnosis still occurs. To analyze the situation, the data on 124 patients with tumors, cysts, inflammatory lesions and metastasis (after surgery and radiotherapy) were evaluated. The two categories of factors were identified: (1) poor quality of US and CT images due to anatomical peculiarities, thick layers of subcutaneous fatty tissue, deep location of lesions, and scars and edema produced by previous surgery and radiotherapy. As far as CT is concerned, imperfections may be due to artifacts and insignificant difference between tumor and normal tissue densities; (2) misinterpretation of images due to tumor and salivary gland merging to form one block, similarity of outlines of malignant and benign tumors, cysts and cyst-like metastases, neoplastic and inflammatory lesions. The ways of improving the quality of US and CT images are suggested. In particular, FNAB should be used to differentiate between malignant and benign tumors.