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Published in: La radiologia medica 3/2019

01-03-2019 | HEAD, NECK AND DENTAL RADIOLOGY

CT and MR imaging findings of infection-free and benign second branchial cleft cysts

Authors: Masaya Kawaguchi, Hiroki Kato, Mitsuhiro Aoki, Bunya Kuze, Akira Hara, Masayuki Matsuo

Published in: La radiologia medica | Issue 3/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The present study aimed to assess CT and MR imaging findings of infection-free and benign second branchial cleft cysts (SBCCs).

Methods

Eleven patients with histopathologically confirmed infection-free and benign SBCCs underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and/or MR imaging. We assessed qualitative (presence and extent of wall thickening, degree of contrast enhancement of the thickened wall on CECT images, and signal intensity of the thickened wall on T2-weighted images) and quantitative (maximum thickness of the thickened wall) imaging findings.

Results

Eccentric and smooth wall thickening was observed in 11/11 (100%) patients. The wall thickening extent (percentage of the thickened wall to the circumference of the wall) was small (1%–25%) in 4/11 (36%), moderate (26%–50%) in 6/11 (54%), extensive (51%–75%) in 1/11 (9%), and diffuse (76%–100%) in 0/11 (0%) patients. Mild homogeneous enhancement of the thickened wall on CECT images was observed in 7/7 (100%) patients. The signal intensity of the thickened wall on T2-weighted images was isointense relative to that of normal lymph nodes in 7/8 (88%) and mildly hyperintense in 1/8 (12%) patient. The maximum thickness of the thickened walls ranged from 2 to 4 (mean 3.4) mm.

Conclusions

Infection-free and benign SBCCs are identifiable as cysts with eccentric and smooth wall thickening on CECT and MR images. The wall thickness was almost always less than half of the wall circumference, isointense relative to normal lymph nodes, and showed mild homogeneous enhancement.
Literature
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Metadata
Title
CT and MR imaging findings of infection-free and benign second branchial cleft cysts
Authors
Masaya Kawaguchi
Hiroki Kato
Mitsuhiro Aoki
Bunya Kuze
Akira Hara
Masayuki Matsuo
Publication date
01-03-2019
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
La radiologia medica / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0033-8362
Electronic ISSN: 1826-6983
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-018-0959-3

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