Nasal cavity eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis: CT and MR imaging findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

EAF consists of exceedingly rare lesions and presently lacks specific imaging reports. The purpose of this study was to determine the CT and MR imaging features of nasal cavity EAF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 6 patients with histology-proven EAF in the nasal cavity. All 6 patients underwent CT and 3 patients also underwent MR imaging. The following imaging features were reviewed: 1) location, 2) shape, 3) margin, 4) CT attenuation, and 5) MR imaging signal intensity. In addition, the accompanying changes and the TIC of the DCE MR imaging were analyzed.

RESULTS

All occurrences of EAF were located at the anterior nasal cavity, arising from the nasal septum in 4 patients, with irregular shape, and the lateral nasal wall in 2, with oval configuration. The mean size was 29.8 mm (range 12-52 mm). On nonenhanced CT, EAF lesions appeared isoattenuated relative to gray matter. On the T1-weighted image, the lesions were isointense in 3 (100%) patients. On the T2-weighted image, the lesions were isointense in 1 (33.3%) patient and hypointense in 2 (66.7%) patients. Occurrences of EAF revealed moderate inhomogeneous contrast enhancement. Three patients underwent DCE MR imaging and the TICs exhibited a rapidly enhancing and slow washout pattern. One patient had bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement, which displayed low signal intensity on the T2-weighted image.

CONCLUSIONS

A familiarity with imaging findings, including lesion location, isoattenuation and bony changes, and hypointensity on T2-weighted images may help to accurately diagnose this rare entity.