The objective of this study was to describe CT and MR findings in patients with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). CT and MR images were examined from 10 patients with histologically proven AFS. All patients demonstrated CT evidence of central sinus high attenuation and T2-weighted MR signal void corresponding to surgically proven areas of thick inspissated allergic mucin. AFS is a distinct clinical entity with a highly specific radiographic appearance based on CT and MRI.

A critical factor in the pretreatment evaluation of patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx is the presence or absence of bone invasion. A prospective study was performed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of plain radiographs and computed tomography in detecting mandibular invasion by cancer arising in these sites. Forty-three consecutive patients with previously untreated oral cavity or oropharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated preoperatively by intraoral radiographs (dental occlusal views and panoramic radiographs) and CT, and the results were compared with postoperative pathologic findings. Of the 11 cases in which pathologic examination confirmed bone invasion, conventional x-ray films were positive in seven (63.6%). Computed tomography confirmed bone invasion in all 11 (100%) of these patients. In addition, the CT scan was more specific than conventional x-ray films in detecting bone invasion. Based on the findings in this study, we strongly recommend CT as the only radiographic study necessary to evaluate intraoral carcinoma prior to treatment.

To evaluate the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) in the identification of metastatic cervical node involvement from cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 61 consecutive, previously untreated patients with T2 or greater squamous cell carcinoma of these sites were studies prospectively by CT, followed within 1 month by surgery to the primary and neck as initial treatment. The CT scan of each patient was evaluated according to the location, size, and appearance of visible nodes, and each feature was correlated with the histopathologic findings of all 83 neck specimens. A significant relationship was found between CT findings (node size, node appearance, and multiplicity of nodes) and the pathologic status of the neck using Chi-square contingency table analysis (overall chi 2 = 30.928, p less than 0.001). This data supports the role of CT in the evaluation of patients with cancer of these sites.

Since laryngoceles are usually asymptomatic, their incidence is probably higher than the literature suggests. With the advent of computed tomography, the incidence and significance of the asymptomatic laryngocele in a general head and neck practice can be addressed. To this end, 304 consecutive patients with a variety of otolaryngic diagnoses were studied prospectively by computed tomography of the neck from January 1983 to February 1985. Thirty-eight (12.5%) of the patients had asymptomatic laryngoceles, defined as air-containing structures in the supraglottic region extending more than 5 mm above the superior border of the thyroid cartilage during normal breathing. The incidence of laryngoceles associated with laryngeal cancer (29%) was higher than that for laryngoceles associated with other diseases (9%). No patient with an asymptomatic laryngocele not associated with laryngeal cancer showed evidence of a subsequent laryngeal neoplasm during close follow-up of 10 to 36 months.

A case of cricoarytenoid subluxation secondary to endotracheal intubation and documented by computed tomography (CT) and electromyography (EMG) is reported. Successful endoscopic reduction of the displaced arytenoid is confirmed by CT. The normal anatomy and physiology of the cricoarytenoid joint is presented and the literature regarding this rarely reported injury is reviewed. Based on this review and the case reported, a treatment plan is proposed.