CT and MRI are utilized to differentiate between different types of masses and to determine the extent of lesions involving the lacrimal gland and the fossa. Although many diseases that affect the lacrimal gland and fossa are specifically diagnosed by imaging, it is frequently very difficult to differentiate each specific disease on the basis of image characteristics alone due to intrinsic similarities. In lacrimal gland epithelial tumors, benign pleomorphic adenomas are seen most commonly with a well defined benign appearance, and a malignant adenoid cystic carcinoma is seen with a typical invasive malignant appearance. However, a malignant myoepithelial carcinoma is seen with a benign looking appearance. Lymphomatous lesions of the lacrimal gland include a broad spectrum ranging from reactive hyperplasia to malignant lymphoma. These lesions can be very difficult to differentiate both radiologically and pathologically. Generally, lymphomas tend to occur in older patients. The developmental cystic lesions found in the lacrimal fossa such as dermoid and epidermoid cysts can be diagnosed when the cyst involves the superior temporal quadrant of the orbit and manifests as a non-enhancing cystic mass and, in case of a lipoma, it is diagnosed as a total fatty mass. However, masses of granulocytic sarcoma and xanthogranuloma, as well as vascular masses, such as a hemangiopericytoma, are difficult to diagnose correctly on the basis of preoperative imaging findings alone. A careful clinical evaluation and moreover, a pathologic verification, are needed. In this pictorial review, the various imaging spectrums of pathologic masses involving the lacrimal gland and fossa are presented, along with appropriate anatomy and pathology reviews.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiography ; Conjunctival Neoplasms/radiography ; Cysts/radiography ; Eye Neoplasms/*radiography ; Hemangiopericytoma/radiography ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus/*pathology ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases/radiography ; Lipoma/radiography ; Lymphoma/radiography ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/radiography ; Neurofibroma/radiography ; Sarcoma, Myeloid/radiography

Intramedullary spinal neurofibroma is extremely rare. A case of cervical intramedullary neurofibroma is presented in a 21-year-old man. Only 20 case have been previously reported in the literature. The site of origin is discussed with various hypotheses.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Myelography/methods ; Neck ; Neurofibroma/*pathology/radiography ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A case of macrodactyly associated with neurofiborma of the median nerve, a congenital anomaly of the hand, affecting only one(left middle) finger is reported with a review of the literature. Macrodactyly which is also termed local gigantism, megalodactylism, megalodactylia, or macrodactylism in other literature, is a rare congenital malformation characterized by overgrowth of one or more fingers of hand. Macrodactyly associated with neurofibroma of the median nerve is especially rare. For this reason the following case is presented together with a review of the literature.
Adolescent ; Angiography ; Female ; Fingers/abnormalities* ; Fingers/radiography ; Fingers/surgery ; Human ; Korea ; Median Nerve*/surgery ; Neurofibroma/complications* ; Neurofibroma/pathology ; Neurofibroma/surgery ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/complications* ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/pathology ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/surgery ; Radial Nerve/surgery

Although the head and neck region is recognized as the most common location for peripheral nerve sheath tumors, central involvement, particularly in the jaw bones, is quite unusual. Neurofibroma is one of the most common nerve sheath tumors occurring in the soft tissue and generally appears in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1 or von Recklinghausen's disease). Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are uncommon sarcomas that almost always arise in the soft tissue. Here, we report four cases of intraosseous peripheral nerve sheath tumors occurring in the jaw bones and compare the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings in order to make a differential diagnosis.
X-Rays ; Sarcoma/*diagnosis ; Neurofibromatoses/pathology ; Neurofibroma/*pathology ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Male ; Jaw/*radiography ; Humans ; Female ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Child ; Bone Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Adult ; Adolescent

Von Recklinghausen's disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease associated with characteristic cafeau-lait spots of skin and multiple neurofibromatosis. It is complicated by malignancies, which in most cases is neurofibrosarcoma. The development of lung cancer in von Recklinghausen's disease is rare. A 61-year-old male was admitted for cough and sputum for 20 days. He had multiple cafe-au-lait spots and subcutaneous neurofibromas in whole body area and Lisch nodules in both iris and he had been diagnosed von Recklinghausen s disease 35 years ago. Chest radiography showed emphysematous buliae in both upper lung field and mass in right upper lung field. Chest CT scan revealed subcarinal lymph node enlargement. Bronchoscopic biopsy was done in mass in superior segment of right lower lobe and the results showed squamous cell carcinoma. The presence of von Recklinghausen's disease and lung cancer are noteworthy.
Biopsy ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cough ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Iris ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurofibrosarcoma ; Radiography ; Skin ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed