Perineural Spread of Cutaneous Head and Neck Malignancies: Imaging Manifestations and Therapeutic Management

✍ Scribed by Kimberly J. Lee; Elliot Abemayor; James Sayre; Sunita Bhuta; Claudia F.E. Kirsch

• Book ID: 102927122
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 541 KB
• Volume: 119
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0023-852X
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.20423

✦ Synopsis

In this study, evidence of PNS was identified in 92.9% of the films when identification of the adjacent cutaneous neural pathway was assessed retrospectively. Patients with multiple neural involvement were also noted predominantly in the temporal and ear region.

If PNI is identified early, multimodality treatment, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy may be administered. However, surgical options may not be available for patients with late or missed diagnoses if the tumor extends beyond skull base foramina and in addition, if inadequately treated, the tumor may recur along the neural margins require possible additional treatment, including postoperative radiation. 13 Our data indicate that a heightened awareness of PNI and PNS needs to be maintained for both referring clinicians and radiologists when evaluating patients and their images. More specifically, careful attention must be paid to the nerves and neurovascular bundles in the proximity of the cutaneous head and neck carcinomas.