Morphological and functional diagnosis in the head and neck with multiplanar spiral CT

Purpose: To evaluate the improvment of multislice-spiral CT in the assessme nt of head and neck tumors. Material and Methods: 80 patients with suspected tumor in the head and neck region were examined with MSCT ( Somatom Plus 4 VZ) after the administrati on of i.v. contrast material. Slice collimation was 4x1 mm with a pitch fac tor of 6. Additional multiplanar reformations were calculated in each case. Results: The specific anatomy and pathways of tumor spread is difficult to demonstrate in cross-sectional imaging. Tumor infiltration of the base of t he skull or the palate could be depicted or excluded on coronal MPR, additi onal coronal scanning was not necessary. The detection of pathologic lymph nodes was improved with MPR in 7 patients. Discussion: The exact determination of tumor margins is mandatory for moder n therapy conceps of limited surgery. High resolution datasets are basis fo r reformations in arbitrary planes, making additional coronal scanning not necessary. Functional imaging of the larynx and hypopharynx improve the dia gnostic accuracy of CT,a short scantime is necessary to reduce motion artif acts. Conclusive assessment of tumor infiltration, lymphatic spread and fun ctional alterations is improved with MSCT.