Is computed tomography perfusion a useful method for distinguishing between benign and malignant neck masses?

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Neck mass evaluation is common in ENT clinics.
• Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial for successful neck mass management.
• Malignant neck masses, if diagnosed late, significantly increase morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of CT perfusion (CTP) in differentiating benign from malignant neck masses.
• To assess CTP's role in functional evaluation of head and neck pathologies.
• To determine if CTP can aid in the differential diagnosis of neck tumors.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 35 patients with neck masses (11 benign, 24 malignant) was conducted.
• Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) was utilized as a functional imaging method.
• Blood volume values derived from CTP were analyzed.

Main Results:

• CTP proved to be a valuable tool for identifying head and neck tumors.
• Analysis of blood volume values using CTP facilitated the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions.
• The study demonstrated CTP's effectiveness in characterizing neck masses.

Conclusions:

• CT perfusion (CTP) is a useful functional imaging technique for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant neck masses.
• CTP provides valuable information beyond standard CT and MRI for head and neck pathologies.
• Integrating CTP into the diagnostic workflow can improve the management of patients with neck masses.