Primary malignant lymphoma of the maxillary sinus: CT and MRI

We reviewed the CT and MRI of seven patients with primary malignant lymphom a of the maxillary sinus to find if there are characteristic imaging findin gs suggestive of the disease. The images were analysed for appearance, size , signal, internal characteristics, extent of tumour, bone change and lymph node enlargement. In two patients, the tumour first presented with mucosal thickening. In the remaining five, the tumours were an expansile mass 4-6 cm in diameter at the time of detection. Although it was difficult to disti nguish tumour from mucosa or obstructed fluid on CIT,T2-weighted MRI enable d us to separate tumour from normal mucosa or fluid. In two patients, the t umours were heterogeneous. Calcification and haemorrhage were observed in o ne patient. Periantral soft-tissue infiltration was always present, even wh en tumour appeared as slight mucosal thickening. Posterior extension was se en in all patients. Permeative and lytic bone destruction accompanied most cases of periantral soft-tissue infiltration: mixed destruction and scleros is was also observed. Mucosal thickening with periantral soft-tissue infilt ration may suggest malignant lymphoma of the maxillary sinus in its early f orm. Various types of bone change may accompany the periantral soft-tissue infiltration.