Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Involving the Pterygopalatine Fossa
Andrea Campos de Oliveira Ribeiroa,
Varsha M. Joshia,
William K. Funkhousera and
Suresh K. Mukherji
,a
a From the Departments of Radiology (A.C.d.O.R., V.M.J., S.K.M.) and Pathology (W.K.F.), University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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FIG 1. Images from the case of a 6-year-old African-American female patient who presented with a 2-week history of progressive painless swelling of the left cheek.
A, Axial contrast-enhanced CT scan shows a moderately enhancing mass centered in the left pterygopalatine fossa (black arrows). Note the appearance of the normal pterygopalatine fossa on the right (p). The mass extends into the posterior portion of the left maxillary sinus. Hypodense contents within the sinus likely indicate obstructed secretions (s). The fat plane (white arrows) between the lateral pterygoid muscle (L) and the mass is preserved.
B, Bone algorithm scan obtained at the same level as the scan shown in A shows erosion of the posterior wall of the left maxillary sinus (black arrows).
C, Axial contrast-enhanced CT scan obtained at a lower level again shows the enhancing mass centered in the left pterygopalatine fossa (black arrows), extending into the left deep buccal space. Note the preservation of the fat (white arrows) between the mass and lateral pterygoid muscle (L), indicating that the mass is arising anterior to the masticator space in the pterygopalatine fossa. p = normal appearance of the pterygopalatine fossa on the contralateral side.
D, Axial contrast-enhanced CT scan obtained through the maxillary alveolar ridge shows the enlarged buccinator muscle on the left (arrowheads), with reticulation of the adjacent fat (small white arrows). Note the normal appearance of the buccinator muscle on the contralateral side.
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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology