Role of Multi Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) in Evaluation of Operated Malignant Neck Tumors

Abstract Background: Neck cancers are common worldwide and have many subtypes according to site of origin. The manage-ment of them involves multidisciplinary evaluation and treat-ment which may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Post-operative findings include tumor recur-rence and post-operative complications. Imaging plays an important role in the post-treatment surveillance of neck cancer and one of these imaging modalities is MDCT which offers rapid image acquisition and are helpful in acute clinical diagnosis and provide precise anatomic detail. Aim of Study: Is to review CT findings after neck cancer surgery (post-operative changes) and differentiate them from persistent or recurrent tumors. Patients and Methods: This study was carried out at Radio Diagnosis Department, Zagazig University Hospitals; the present study was carried on 48 patients of operated neck cancers. CECT were done. Results: This study included 48 patients with operated neck tumors, 35 cases of tumor recurrence and 9 cases of post-operative changes and 4 cases with tumor recurrence associated with post-operative changes. All patients underwent CECT. Biopsies were made for all suspected cases of tumor recurrence after surgical intervention for histological types identification. Conclusion: Our results show that contrast enhanced multi detector CT is considered a good non-invasive tool for eval-uation of operated malignant tumors in correlation with histopathological biopsy after surgery