Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the maxillary sinus: a retrospective study with radiological-histopathological correlations

Abstract Objective To investigate the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) in the maxillary sinus and correlations with the tubular, cribriform, and solid histopathological types of ACC. Study Design Twenty patients with histopathologically-proven ACC in the maxillary sinus were retrospectively reviewed. CT and MRI findings were correlated with histopathological results. Results On CT, significant differences were discovered between the 3 histopathological ACC types in range, size, shape, margins, type of bone destruction, and time intensity curve (TIC) (p ≤ 0.018). Tubular lesions were limited in range, were smaller than the other types, produced small cystic patterns with well-defined margins, and caused a cribriform pattern of bone destruction. All tumors demonstrated heterogeneous intensity signal on T1- and T2 weighted images (T1WI and T2WI) and appeared as hypo- or isointense small cystic lesions on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI (n=6). Postcontrast MRI revealed marked heterogeneous enhancement for all lesions. The TIC showed a rapidly enhancing and slow washout pattern in all tubular lesions and a rapidly enhancing and rapid washout pattern for solid tumors. Conclusion Different histologic patterns of ACCs have distinctive radiological features, which can facilitate accurate presurgical diagnosis.