Differentiation of extranodal non-Hodgkins lymphoma from squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus: a multimodality imaging approach

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a multimodality imaging approach for differentiating between primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the maxillary sinus. Twelve NHLs and 29 SCCs of the maxillary sinus were included. CT findings, MR signal intensities, apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs), and maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were correlated with two pathologies. On CT, permeative growth frequency was greater among NHLs than among SCCs (50 % vs. 10 %; p < 0.01), whereas destructive growth frequency was greater among SCCs than among NHLs (83 % vs. 33 %; p < 0.01). On CT, remaining sinus wall within the tumor was more frequent with NHLs than with SCCs (92 % vs. 34 %; p < 0.01), whereas intratumoral necrosis was more frequent with SCCs than with NHLs (86 % vs. 17 %; p < 0.01). ADCs were lower for NHLs than for SCCs (0.61 vs. 0.95 × 10(–3) mm(2)/s; p < 0.01). No significant differences in MR signal intensities and SUVmax were observed. Tumor growth pattern, remaining sinus wall within the tumor, and intratumoral necrosis were useful CT findings for differentiating between NHLs and SCCs. ADC measurements could assist the differentiation of NHL from SCC.