The CT and pathologic characteristics in nasopharyngeal precancerous lesion

Objective: To explore the CT features of nasopharyngeal precancerous lesion. Methods: Among the 780 cases with nasopharyngeal diseases, 35 cases were confirmed by biopsy as nasopharyngeal precancerous lesion and CT examination was performed on 26 cases. Results: In the 26 cases with nasopharyngeal precancerous lesion, nasopharyngeal mucosa thicking, soft tissue swelling and pharyngeal recess or parapharyngeal space narrowing were showed on CT. Among those, 10 was reported normal, 11 was reported as nasopharyngitis and only 5 was reported as nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Conclusion: The value of CT to nasopharyngeal precancerous lesion is limited. Further examination or short-time follow up should be done when nasopharyngeal mucosa or soft tissue swelling and pharyngeal recess or parapharyngeal space narrowing were observed. (authors)