CASE 69 Published on 05.06.2001

MRI of SCC of the left gingiva

Section

Head & neck imaging

Case Type

Clinical Cases

Authors

Lemort M, Leurquin M

Patient

73 years, female

Clinical History
Probable malignant tumour of the left gingiva.
Imaging Findings
This patient presents with a 3 cm lesion of the left retromolar trigone
Discussion
After Gd DOTA injection (1c,1d), the natural contrast between the tumour (hyposignal) and the surrounding fat tissues (hypersignal) is partly cancelled owing to tumour enhancement. So the pre-contrast T1 sequence (1a,1b) or an adequately fat-suppressed sequence are necessary. The fat suppression slices (2a,2b) allow to better visualise the tumour lying in a fat area. In addition, abnormalities of the bone marrow are shown. In this case, there is a hypersignal into the ascending branch of the mandible, suspect of tumour invasion. No involvement of the masticator space is seen.
Differential Diagnosis List
SCC of the left retromolar trigone
Final Diagnosis
SCC of the left retromolar trigone
Case information
URL: https://eurorad.org/case/69
DOI: 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.69
ISSN: 1563-4086