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MR features of masticatory muscles in adenoid cystic carcinoma involving the masticator space

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan; ² Department of Radiation Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; ³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nagoya Tokushu-kai General Hospital, Kasugai, Japan; ⁴ First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan

*Correspondence to: Yoshiko Ariji, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, 2-11 Suemori-dori, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8651, Japan; Email: yoshiko{at}dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp

Received 25 March 2004; revised 8 July 2004; accepted 8 July 2004

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is known for its slow-growing but severely infiltrative nature with little tissue reaction. Although the masticatory muscles are often involved, their imaging features have not been well elucidated. We hereby report three patients with widespread ACC, which initially appeared with trismus and/or temporomandibular symptoms and involved the masticator space. Possible features of masticator space involvement are presented on magnetic resonance (MR) images. Masticatory muscle changes on MR images consisted of two aspects, namely, denervation changes and direct tumour invasion.

Keywords: adenoid cystic carcinoma; masticatory muscle; MRI; trismus; denervation