Radiologic overview of sinonasal lesions

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Sinonasal tumors represent approximately 3% of head and neck malignancies, with common origins in the nasal cavity, ethmoid, and maxillary sinuses.
• Clinical presentations vary, including anosmia, altered phonation, headache, epistaxis, and diplopia.
• Malignant sinonasal tumors can invade adjacent structures, leading to complex neurological and visual deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse pathologies of benign and malignant sinonasal tumors.
• To emphasize the critical role of imaging features in diagnosing and managing these tumors.
• To highlight the utility of CT and MRI in assessing tumor characteristics and local invasion.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging features (CT and MRI) for a spectrum of sinonasal tumors.
• Correlation of imaging findings with tumor location, invasion, heterogeneity, and enhancement patterns.
• Inclusion of rare and unique sinonasal tumor cases to illustrate diagnostic challenges.

Main Results:

• Imaging accurately assesses tumor location, extent of invasion, and potential metastasis.
• CT and MRI reveal internal tumor heterogeneity and contrast enhancement patterns.
• Understanding imaging features aids in differentiating benign from malignant sinonasal lesions and planning treatment.

Conclusions:

• Imaging is indispensable for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning of sinonasal tumors.
• A comprehensive understanding of imaging findings is essential for managing the wide variety of sinonasal pathologies.
• Advanced imaging techniques are key to evaluating local invasion and guiding therapeutic strategies for sinonasal malignancies.