Jebmh.com Original Article J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc., pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 3/Issue 50/June 23, 2016 Page 2566 ROLE OF MULTIDETECTOR CT IN EVALUATION OF NECK LESIONS Reena Mathur 1 , Madhumala 2 , Avinash Gupta 3 , Ravindra Repswal 4 , Sourav K. Singh 5 , Prasanna 6 , Shyoji Ram 7 , Divya Bagoria 8 1 Professor & HOD, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 2 3 rd Year Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 3 Associate Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 4 3 rd Year Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 5 3 rd Year Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 6 2 nd Year Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 7 2 nd Year Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 8 2 nd Year Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, J. L. N. Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. ABSTRACT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To find out the role of multidetector computed tomography in the evaluation of neck lesions with respect to evaluation of the size, location and extent of tumour. Extension of tumour infiltrating into surrounding vascular and visceral structures. To correlate the findings of MD-CT with final diagnosis by biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data for the study was collected from patients with suspected neck lesions attending Department of Radio-diagnosis, J.L.N. Medical College and Associated Group of Hospitals, Ajmer, Rajasthan. A prospective study was conducted over a period (From 1st March 2014 to 31 Aug. 2015) on patients with clinically suspected neck lesions or patients who were diagnosed to have neck lesion on ultrasound and were referred to CT for further characterisation. The patients presented with symptoms of palpable neck mass and neck pain. Patients were evaluated using multidetector CT. A provisional diagnosis was made after CT scan and these findings were correlated with histopathology/surgical findings as applicable. RESULT In the present study, 97 out of 100 cases were correctly characterised by computed tomography giving an accuracy of 97%. One case of buccal carcinoma was wrongly diagnosed as benign lesion and another case of malignant lymph node was inaccurately diagnosed as benign lymph node, also another case of benign lymph node was inaccurately diagnosed as malignant lymph node. CONCLUSION Multidetector Computed Tomography of the neck has improved the localisation and characterisation of neck lesions. Accurate delineation of disease by CT scan provides a reliable preoperative diagnosis, plan for radiotherapy ports and post- treatment followup. However, histopathology still remains the gold standard as CT is not 100% accurate. KEYWORDS Multidetector Computed Tomography, Histopathology, Palpable Neck Mass, Malignant Lymph Node. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Mathur R, Madhumala, Gupta A, et al. Role of multidetector CT in evaluation of neck lesions. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2016; 3(50), 2566-2573. DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2016/565 INTRODUCTION: A mass lesion in the neck can be a diagnostic challenge in a patient of any age. Neck masses include a spectrum of lesions of diverse origin and aetiology. Clinical examination alone is limited in its ability to accurately assess the extent and size of head and neck tumours, especially or submucosal extension of disease and extent of nodal metastasis. Computed tomography has found an increasing application in the evaluation of neck masses–both congenital and acquired, and is currently one of the most powerful and versatile imaging procedures for the evaluation of neck masses. Multislice spiral CT provides volumetric helical data, thereby permitting optimal multiplanar and 3D reconstructions. 1 Neck is a conical space that is situated between the base of skull up to the thoracic inlet. It is divided into suprahyoid and infrahyoid part by the hyoid bone. Traditionally, the neck used to be classified based on triangles. But with the advent of cross-sectional imaging, the concept of neck spaces has come into picture. The neck is divided into spaces by the superficial and deep cervical fascia. 2 The suprahyoid neck spaces include pharyngeal mucosal space, parapharyngeal space, masticator space, parotid space, carotid space, retropharyngeal space, submandibular and sublingual space and perivertebral space. The infrahyoid neck is the region of the neck extending from the hyoid bone to the thoracic inlet. The anatomy of the infrahyoid neck has been subdivided into anterior and posterior surgical triangles whose borders are readily palpable bones and muscles. Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 23-05-2016, Peer Review 04-06-2016, Acceptance 16-06-2016, Published 23-06-2016. Corresponding Author: Dr. Reena Mathur, House No. 341, Behind Revenue Board, Civil Lines, Ajmer-305001, Rajasthan. E-mail: sunrinty@yahoo.com DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2016/565