Computed Tomography Appearance of Normal Nonossified Thyroid Cartilage. Issue 2 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dadfar, Nazanin; Seyyedi, Mohammad; Forghani, Reza; Curtin, Hugh D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer assisted tomography. Volume 39:Issue 2(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography; Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000000196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-8715

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objective</title> <p>The objective of this study was to determine the density and homogeneity of the nonossified thyroid cartilage (NOTC) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) providing preliminary information for future evaluation of cartilage invasion using dual-energy CT.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods</title> <p>One hundred normal-larynx CT scans were evaluated for the density and homogeneity of NOTC.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results</title> <p>The density of the NOTC was homogeneous in all cases. Nonossified thyroid cartilage had higher mean density than contiguous muscle, but there was overlap. In 47 cases, a lucent area was observed at the junction of the ossified and NOTC but not within the NOTC itself. In 11 cases, ossification was observed in only 1 cortex of the thyroid cartilage. Cartilage at the anterior commissure was not ossified in 7 cases.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Nonossified thyroid cartilage has a homogeneous appearance on contrast-enhanced CT scans, but showed some normal variations that could be mistakenly reported as tumor invasion.</p> </sec> </abstract>