Primary nasopharyngeal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: imaging patterns on MR imaging

Abstract

Objectives: To summarize the distinct imaging features of different subtypes of primary nasopharyngeal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs).

Materials and methods: Clinical data and magnetic resonance imaging findings of 71 patients with histologically proven primary nasopharyngeal NHLs were retrospectively reviewed. The tumor distribution, signal intensity, lesion texture, contrast enhancement properties, extra-chamber involvement, regional structure invasion, and cervical lymphadenopathy were evaluated and compared between different subtypes of NHLs.

Results: Of the patients, 70.4% had B-cell lymphomas; 64.8% had symmetrical and diffuse involvement of nasopharynx walls; and 19.7% had superficial ulcerations. Extra-chamber involvement and regional structure invasion occurred in most patients. The frequency of neck node involvement was up to 83.10%; 62.7% of them were bilateral involvement. Patients with T-cell or nature killer/T-cell NHLs had a higher incidence of superficial ulcerations, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinus invasion than B-cell NHLs (P<.05). Patients with B-cell NHLs had a higher incidence of cervical lymphadenopathy specifically in Level VA and parotid region than T-cell or nature killer/T-cell (NK/T-cell) NHLs (P<.05).

Conclusion: Primary nasopharyngeal NHLs had some characteristic imaging features and different subtypes of nasopharyngeal NHLs had some distinct imaging features.