The Diagnostic Value of Computed Tomography in Bead and Neck Cancer fart I : Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

두경부악성종양에서의 전산화단층촬영의 진단적 가치 -비인두업성종양을 중심으로-

The CT findings of 46 cases of nasopharyngeal cancer were analyzed and compared with clinical tumor staging. They are composed of 28 cases $(61\%)$ of squamous cell carcinoma, 13cases $(28\%)$ of undifferentiated carcinoma, 4 cases $(9\%)$of lymphoma and 1 case $(2\%)$ of adenoid cystic carcinoma. The results were as follows : 1. The most common CT findings of nasopharyngeal cancers are air·way asymmetry including obliteration of Rosenmuller fossa, orifice of Eustachian tube and asymmetric obliteration of parapharyngeal fat. 2. Other involved anatomic sites are carotid sheath area, oropharynx, paranasal sinuses especially sphenoid sinus, cervical lymph nodes, nasal cavity and skull base or middle cranial fossa. 3. CT does significantly influence on the tumor staging of the nasopharynx cancers, but has a definite value in evaluating deep tissue invasion of the cancers especially to parapharyngeal space or carotid sheath area. 4. CT seems to be essential for staging work-up, estimating the prognosis, and assessing the effect of radiotherapy of the nasopharyngeal cancer because it clearly shows the whole extent of the tumors including deep tissue invasion.