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MRI of mucosal malignant melanoma of the head and neck
H Yoshioka1, T Kamada, S Kandatsu
1Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Purpose:
The objective of this study was to determine the characteristic MR findings for mucosal malignant melanomas of the head and neck.
Method:
We retrospectively analyzed the MR images for six patients with this entity. T1-weighted SE images with and without gadolinium and T2-weighted fast SE images were obtained. MR images were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by comparing the signal intensity of the melanoma with that of muscle.
Results:
On T1-weighted images, five melanomas were hyperintense and one was isointense. On T2-weighted images, five were of mixed intensity and one showed isointensity. The mean signal intensity ratio of the primary melanoma to muscle was 1.51 and 1.39 on T1-weighted images with and without gadolinium, respectively. These values were not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Hyperintensity on T1-weighted images is characteristic of this entity, but not universal.