FDG-PET/CT Skull Base to Mid-Thigh Patients with suspected recurrent paraganglioma may benefit from additional types of PET imaging beyond the scope of this document [63-65]; however, PET/CT is not an initial imaging study for evaluation of a pulsatile neck mass. FDG-PET/MRI Skull Base to Mid-Thigh Patients with suspected recurrent paraganglioma may benefit from additional types of PET imaging beyond the scope of this document [63-65]; however, PET/MRI is not an initial imaging study for evaluation of a pulsatile neck mass. Arteriography Cervicocerebral Catheter angiography may be used for surgical planning and endovascular treatment or for further characterization of vascular neck lesions identified on US or cross-sectional imaging; however, it is not an initial imaging study for evaluation of a pulsatile neck mass. Variant 3: Parotid region mass(es). Initial imaging. Imaging generally cannot determine if a newly symptomatic or palpable parotid lesion is benign or malignant. However, imaging may help determine whether the mass is arising from within or outside the parotid gland, the characteristics of the mass, and whether additional masses are present [66]. An extraparotid mass usually reflects a lymph node. For an intraparotid lesion, differential considerations include lymph nodes, benign, malignant, inflammatory, and congenital etiologies. Although certain imaging findings often suggest a specific diagnosis for a parotid mass, histologic diagnosis is usually needed to exclude malignancy [26,67-72]. Clinical history and Neck Mass/Adenopathy physical examination also influences the workup as numbness, trismus, fixation, and facial weakness may suggest a malignant etiology. Radiologist consultation is essential to achieve appropriate anatomic coverage. CT Neck CT face and/or neck with IV contrast is commonly used to evaluate palpable parotid region abnormalities, usually in the setting of suspected parotid acute inflammation [73].
Neck Mass Adenopathy. FDG-PET/CT Skull Base to Mid-Thigh Patients with suspected recurrent paraganglioma may benefit from additional types of PET imaging beyond the scope of this document [63-65]; however, PET/CT is not an initial imaging study for evaluation of a pulsatile neck mass. FDG-PET/MRI Skull Base to Mid-Thigh Patients with suspected recurrent paraganglioma may benefit from additional types of PET imaging beyond the scope of this document [63-65]; however, PET/MRI is not an initial imaging study for evaluation of a pulsatile neck mass. Arteriography Cervicocerebral Catheter angiography may be used for surgical planning and endovascular treatment or for further characterization of vascular neck lesions identified on US or cross-sectional imaging; however, it is not an initial imaging study for evaluation of a pulsatile neck mass. Variant 3: Parotid region mass(es). Initial imaging. Imaging generally cannot determine if a newly symptomatic or palpable parotid lesion is benign or malignant. However, imaging may help determine whether the mass is arising from within or outside the parotid gland, the characteristics of the mass, and whether additional masses are present [66]. An extraparotid mass usually reflects a lymph node. For an intraparotid lesion, differential considerations include lymph nodes, benign, malignant, inflammatory, and congenital etiologies. Although certain imaging findings often suggest a specific diagnosis for a parotid mass, histologic diagnosis is usually needed to exclude malignancy [26,67-72]. Clinical history and Neck Mass/Adenopathy physical examination also influences the workup as numbness, trismus, fixation, and facial weakness may suggest a malignant etiology. Radiologist consultation is essential to achieve appropriate anatomic coverage. CT Neck CT face and/or neck with IV contrast is commonly used to evaluate palpable parotid region abnormalities, usually in the setting of suspected parotid acute inflammation [73].