[CT diagnosis of maxillary mucoceles]

CT signs of thirty-six cases of maxillary mucocele surgically and pathologically proved were analyzed. 20 of 36 cases revealed as low density lesion. 16 of 36 cases revealed as isodensity or high density lesion. They were morphologically classified as three types: nodular type, inflammatory type, bony defect type. Cystic morphology and fluid density within the lesion obviously indicated mucocele. Differential diagnosis should be made between mucocele and polyps, when the lesion revealed as soft tissue density. Inflammatory type need to be distinguished from maxillary inflammation. And bony defect type should be distinguished from the benign or malignant tumor of maxillary sinus. The islet sign and bone sclerosis are considered to be valuable for the differential diagnosis.