American Journal of Neuroradiology, Vol 14, Issue 2 461-464, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Neuroradiology
ARTICLES |
Levator scapulae muscle asymmetry presenting as a palpable neck mass: CT evaluation
BA Shpizner and RA Holliday
Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
PURPOSE: To define the normal CT anatomy of the levator scapulae muscle and to report on a series of five patients who presented with a palpable mass in the posterior triangle due to asymmetry of the levator scapulae muscles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The contrast-enhanced CT examinations of the neck in 25 patients without palpable masses were reviewed to establish the normal CT appearance of the levator scapulae muscle. We retrospectively reviewed the contrast-enhanced CT examinations of the neck in five patients who presented with a palpable mass secondary to asymmetric levator scapulae muscles. RESULTS: In three patients who had undergone unilateral radical neck dissection, hypertrophy of the ipsilateral levator scapulae muscle was found. In one patient, the normal levator scapulae muscle produced a factitious "mass" due to atrophy of the contralateral levator scapulae muscle. One patient had an intramuscular neoplasm of the levator scapulae. CONCLUSION: Asymmetry of the levator scapulae muscles, an unusual cause of a posterior triangle mass, can be diagnosed using CT.