Head and neck osteosarcoma: CT and MR imaging features

This study aims to assess the CT and MRI features of head and neck osteosarcoma (HNO).

37 HNOs were identified, and the following imaging characteristics were reviewed on CT and MRI.

A total of 37 patients(age 41.5 ± 15.0 years old; 16 males, 21 females) were included in the study. Tumours occurred in the maxilla (16, 43.2%), mandible (8, 21.6%), skull base (6, 16.2%), calvarium (5, 13.5%), paranasal sinuses (1, 2.7%) and cervical soft tissue (1, 2.7%). 16 patients received radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Three patients (8.1%) developed osteosarcomas related to a primary bone disease. 16 of the (43.2%) tumours demonstrated lytic density on CT scans, followed by 13 (35.1%) showing mixed density and 7 (18.9%) with sclerotic density. Matrix mineralization was present in 32 (86.5%). 3 out of 24 (12.5%) tumours showed lamellar periosteal reactions, 21 out of 24 (87.5%) showed spiculated periosteal reactions. 12 tumours showed low signal intensities on T₁WI, with 16 having heterogeneous signal intensities. 10 tumours showed high signal intensities on T₂WI, and 18 showed heterogeneous signal intensities. With contrast-enhanced images, 3 tumours showed homogeneous enhancement (2 osteoblastic and 1 giant cell-rich), 18 tumours showed heterogeneous enhancement (13 osteoblastic, 4 fibroblastic and 1 giant cell-rich), and 7 tumours showed peripheral enhancement (6 chondroblastic and 1 osteoblastic). These tumours were characterized by soft tissue masses with a diameter of 5.6 ± 1.8 cm.

HNO is a rare condition and is commonly associated with previous radiation exposure. This study provides age, sex distribution, location, CT and MRI features of HNO.