Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2013
ReviewPitfalls in the staging of cancer of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common primary malignancy of the nasopharynx, it is an uncommon malignancy in much of the Western world. Over the last several years, there have been important changes in the terminology used for histologic classification of NPC and important changes to the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging of NPC. Accurate imaging assessment is critical for diagnose, to stage and plan radiation treatment, and for ongoing follow-up and surveillance. This article emphasizes important nasopharyngeal anatomy landmarks and the imaging appearances and pitfalls of NPC, its patterns of spread, and posttreatment appearances.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2013
ReviewPitfalls in the staging of cancer of the major salivary gland neoplasms.
The major salivary glands consist of the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Most neoplasms in other subsites in the head and neck are squamous cell carcinoma, but tumors of the salivary glands may be benign or malignant. ⋯ The role of imaging is to attempt to determine histology, predict likelihood of a lesion being malignant, and report an imaging stage. This article reviews the various histologies, imaging features, and staging of major salivary gland neoplasms.
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Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of brain abscess, pyogenic infection, and encephalitis. The role of CT and MRI in the diagnosis and management of pyogenic brain abscess and its complications is reviewed. ⋯ Common causes of encephalitis in immunocompromised patients, and their imaging appearances, are also discussed. When combined with CSF, serologic studies and patient history, imaging findings can suggest the cause of encephalitis.
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Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) frequently occur in the immunocompromised or debilitated host. Imaging findings are non-specific but may be organized into extra-axial, parenchymal, and vascular categories. Furthermore, knowledge of fungal morphology may predict the imaging manifestations with large, hyphal species having a predilection for brain parenchymal involvement, while small, unicellular organisms typically result in meningitis. Advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging, MR perfusion and MR spectroscopy, when combined with clinical findings, may help in differentiating fungal disease from other mimckers such as pyogenic infection or cystic metastases.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Nov 2012
ReviewImaging of rickettsial, spirochetal, and parasitic infections.
This article is an update and literature review of the clinical and neuroimaging findings of the commonly known rickettsial, spirochetal, and eukaryotic parasitic infections. Being familiar with clinical presentation and imaging findings of these infections is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment especially in patients who live in or have a travel history to endemic regions or are immunocompromised.