Application of multi-slice spiral CT in the diagnosis of children's parotid cleft deformity

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of multi-slice spiral CT （CT） and multi-planar reconstruction （MPR） in the diagnosis of children with parotid cleft deformity. Method:The CT images of 55 cases of branchial cleft deformity confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Result:CT examination showed that 37 cases had strip-like, tubular fistula or cystic mass located in the anterior cervical triangle, anterior margin of sternocleidomastoid muscle, and 2 of them had bilateral fistula structure. In 16 casescystic mass and tubular fistula were found in the parotid gland or at the edge of the parotid gland. One case was accompanied by atresia of the lateral auditory meatus. After contrast enhancement, the cystic wall（tube wall） of 55 patients were enhanced. In 9 patients with infection, the boundary of the lesion was blurred, and the density of the cyst or lumen increased after contrast enhancement. MSCT diagnosed 6 cases of parotid cleft cyst with fistula, 35 cases of branchial cleft cyst, 13 cases of parotid fistula, and 1 case misdiagnosed as lymphadenitis. Among all the cases, 15 were type Ⅰ, 36 were type Ⅱand 4 were type Ⅲ. Compared with the results of pathological diagnosis and clinical operation, the accuracy of qualitative diagnosis and localization was 99.9% and 100.0%. Conclusion:Multi-slice spiral CT thin-slice images combined with MPR image post-processing technology can better display the location of branchial cyst and the course of branchial fistula.