PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Razek, Ahmed Abdel Khalek Abdel
AU  - Elasfour, Ahmed Ahmed
TI  - MR Appearance of Rhinoscleroma
DP  - 1999 Apr 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 575--578
VI  - 20
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/4/575.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/4/575.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1999 Apr 01; 20
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We describe the MR imaging appearance of rhinoscleroma, an endemic, chronic, granulomatous disease whose causative agent is Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis.METHODS: The study included 15 patients (nine males and six females; mean age, 25 years; range, 13–36 years) with rhinoscleroma. MR imaging was performed in all patients. The signal intensity of the nasal masses was compared with that of fat, muscle, and CSF on both T1- and T2-weighted images. All cases were proved by histopathologic examination.RESULTS: The nasal masses were bilateral and symmetrical (n = 6), asymmetrical (n = 4), or unilateral (n = 5). They extended through the anterior nares (n = 9) or posterior choana into the nasopharynx (n = 3). They obstructed the ostiomeatal units with retained secretions in the related sinuses (n = 10). On T1-weighted images, rhinoscleroma showed striking (n = 9) or mild (n = 6) high signal intensity relative to muscle and CSF, but less hyperintensity than fat. On T2-weighted images, the nasal masses showed homogeneous high signal intensity (n = 10) or heterogeneous high signal intensity associated with hypointense foci (n = 5). They were hyperintense relative to fat and muscle, but less hyperintense than CSF.CONCLUSION: The hypertrophic stage of rhinoscleroma has characteristic mild to marked high signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted MR images.