Abstract
Simple SummaryPretreatment assessment of local extension in sinonasal cancer is essential for prognostic evaluation and surgical planning. It essentially relies on CT and MRI imaging whose performance is not accurately described in the scientific literature. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of CT and MRI for the diagnosis of skull base and orbital invasion in sinonasal cancer by comparing imaging findings to histopathological data. A total of 176 patients were included. Objective data about the diagnostic value of pretreatment imaging in patients with sinonasal cancer were obtained: they suggest that pretreatment assessment of orbital invasion is difficult, even with the combination of CT and MRI.Background: Pretreatment assessment of local extension in sinonasal cancer is essential for prognostic evaluation and surgical planning. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of two common imaging techniques (CT and MRI) for the diagnosis of skull base and orbital invasion by comparing imaging findings to histopathological data. Methods: This was a retrospective two-center study including patients with sinonasal cancer involving the skull base and/or the orbit operated on between 2000 and 2019. Patients were included only if pre-operative CT and/or MRI, operative and histopathologic reports were available. A double prospective blinded imaging review was conducted according to predefined radiological parameters. Radiologic tumor extension was compared to histopathological reports, which were considered the gold standard. The predictive positive value (PPV) for the diagnosis of skull base/orbital invasion was calculated for each parameter. Results: A total of 176 patients were included. Ethmoidal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma was the most common type of cancer (41%). The PPV for major modification of the bony skull base was 78% on the CT scan, and 89% on MRI. MRI signs of dural invasion with the highest PPVs were: contact angle over 45° between tumor and dura (86%), irregular deformation of dura adjacent to tumor (87%) and nodular dural enhancement over 2 mm in thickness (87%). Signs of orbital invasion had low PPVs (<50%). Conclusions: This retrospective study provides objective data about the diagnostic value of pretreatment imaging in patients with sinonasal cancer.
Highlights
Sinonasal cancers are rare, accounting for 3% of all head and neck malignancies.Histology and prognosis are highly variable for these tumors
The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of two common imaging techniques (CT and MRI) for the diagnosis of skull base and orbital invasion in sinonasal cancer by comparing imaging findings to histopathological data
A retrospective study was conducted in two referral centers for skull base cancers
Summary
Sinonasal cancers are rare, accounting for 3% of all head and neck malignancies.Histology and prognosis are highly variable for these tumors. Pretreatment imaging by a CT scan and MRI is essential to assess the local extension of the tumor [2] and to determine its resectability, massive cerebral invasion and/or invasion of vascular structures such as the internal carotid artery or cavernous sinus, being a contraindication for surgical treatment. The radiological assessment of the tumor origin is a crucial piece of information before endoscopic endonasal surgery, especially for the planification of skull base resection and reconstruction [3] Contraindications of this technique are often detected by imaging: orbital involvement requiring exenteration, massive dural invasion over orbital roof, invasion of maxillary sinus walls (except for the medial one) [4,5]. Conclusions: This retrospective study provides objective data about the diagnostic value of pretreatment imaging in patients with sinonasal cancer
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