Fluid-Fluid Level Formation: A Rare Finding of Extracranial Head and Neck Schwannomas

We present 3 cases of extracranial head and neck schwannomas exhibiting fluid-fluid levels. In the described cases, CT and MR imaging showed predominantly cystic components, intermixed with cellular components. Histopathologic examinations of excised specimens revealed hemosiderin deposition, reflec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR 2009-08, Vol.30 (7), p.1451-1453
Main Authors: Kato, H, Kanematsu, M, Mizuta, K, Aoki, M, Yamada, K, Yamakawa, H, Iwama, T, Hirose, Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis
Cyst Fluid - cytology
Cyst Fluid - diagnostic imaging
Female
Head & Neck
Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nervous system
Neurilemmoma - diagnosis
Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
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Summary:We present 3 cases of extracranial head and neck schwannomas exhibiting fluid-fluid levels. In the described cases, CT and MR imaging showed predominantly cystic components, intermixed with cellular components. Histopathologic examinations of excised specimens revealed hemosiderin deposition, reflecting intratumoral hemorrhages, which was presumably a cause of fluid-fluid levels. Although fluid-fluid levels are nonspecific findings, schwannoma should be considered when radiologic images demonstrate marked cystic formation with fluid-fluid levels in extracranial head and neck tumors.
ISSN:0195-6108
1936-959X
DOI:10.3174/ajnr.A1511