CT AND MR-IMAGING OF THE BUCCAL SPACE AND BUCCAL SPACE MASSES

The authors describe the normal variations in the buccal space and pre sent the range of buccal space pathologic conditions seen on computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images, In a series of 50 patients studied with CT and 30 with MR imaging, the visualization an d measurement of the normal facial expression and buccinator muscles, parotidomasseteric fascia, parotid duct, accessory parotid tissue, and facial neurovascular bundle were statistically equivalent, The size o f the buccal fat pad was statistically the same from side to side with in a given patient, Normal lymph nodes were rarely discernible from th e facial neurovascular bundles, In a series of 26 patients with unsusp ected buccal space masses, salivary gland tumors were the most common masses, Less frequently, benign lesions (eg, hemangioma and dilated pa rotid ducts) and soft-tissue malignancies (eg, sarcoma) manifested as buccal space masses, Occasionally, a cheek mass of uncertain cause pro ved to be lymphadenopathy; however, adenopathy is more commonly associ ated with clinically evident, deeply infiltrating facial neoplasms, Kn owledge of the anatomic variations and expected abnormalities of the b uccal space is useful for the radiologist interpreting facial CT or MR images.