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Knowledge of anatomy is essential to the understanding of disease and conditions of the oral cavity and salivary glands. This article is intended to serve as an overview of the oral cavity, its subsites, and that of the neighboring salivary glands. The authors cover the anatomy of the lips, tongue, floor of mouth, hard palate, teeth, various mucosal areas, and salivary ducts. When appropriate, radiological imaging along with figures serves as a companion to highlight the clinical relevance and practical applications of specific anatomic locations.

This study aimed to quantify the adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (ANR) in a cohort of healthy adults on cone beam computed tomography (CT) using the Fujioka method, which is a reproducible measure of adenoid size and nasopharyngeal patency.Electronic health records and maxillofacial cone beam CT in 202 consecutive patients aged 16 years and older were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a history of adenoidectomy, sinonasal disease, lymphoproliferative disorders, and cleft palate were excluded from the study. The midsagittal reconstructed cone beam CT image was used to determine the ANR. Statistical analysis was conducted using 1-way analysis of variance.Of the 202 subjects, 131 were female and 71 were male. The mean ± SD subject age was 45.43 ± 20.79 years (range, 16-91 years). The mean ± SD ANR in all subjects was 0.22 ± 0.13 (range, 0.03-0.75) and in each decade of adult life was as follows: younger than 21 years, 0.39 ± 0.12; 21 to 30 years, 0.29 ± 0.11; 31 to 40 years, 0.21 ± 0.09; 41 to 50 years, 0.20 ± 0.07; 51 to 60 years, 0.16 ± 0.10; 61 to 70 years, 0.13 ± 0.05; 71 to 80 years, 0.12 ± 0.05; 81 to 90 years, 0.11 ± 0.04; and 91 years or older, 0.10 ± 0. The differences in mean ANR among the age subgroups were statistically significant ( P0.001).The mean ANR gradually decreased from 0.39 in the second decade of life to 0.16 in the sixth decade of life and plateaued at approximately 0.10 thereafter.

This article discusses mimics, anatomic variants, and pitfalls of imaging of the sinonasal cavity, orbit, and jaw. The authors discuss clinical findings and imaging pearls, which help in differentiating these from one another.

The use of standardized imaging protocols is paramount in order to facilitate comparable, reproducible images and, consequently, to optimize patient care. Standardized MR protocols are lacking when studying head and neck pathologies in the pediatric population. We propose an international, multicenter consensus paper focused on providing the best combination of acquisition time/technical requirements and image quality. Distinct protocols for different regions of the head and neck and, in some cases, for specific pathologies or clinical indications are recommended. This white paper is endorsed by several international scientific societies and it is the result of discussion, in consensus, among experts in pediatric head and neck imaging.

Hyperparathyroidism is defined as excessive parathyroid hormone production. The diagnosis is made through biochemical testing, in which imaging has no role. However, imaging is appropriate for preoperative parathyroid gland localization with the intent of surgical cure. Imaging is particularly useful in the setting of primary hyperparathyroidism whereby accurate localization of a single parathyroid adenoma can facilitate minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Imaging can also be useful to localize ectopic or supernumerary parathyroid glands and detail anatomy, which may impact surgery. This document summarizes the literature and provides imaging recommendations for hyperparathyroidism including primary hyperparathyroidism, recurrent or persistent primary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroid surgery, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Recommendations include ultrasound, CT neck without and with contrast, and nuclear medicine parathyroid scans. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Sinonasal cavity is an important subsite in head and neck tumors. There are a myriad of malignancies that present within this area. Adequate staging for treatment planning requires multimodality evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) forms an important component in the evaluation of sinonasal tumors. We sought to review the most common sinonasal tumors, including sinonasal anatomy, clinical features, and common imaging features. A literature review was performed to evaluate common sinonasal tumors. Owing to the different tissue types within the sinonasal cavity, there are multiple different tumor pathologies within the sinonasal compartment. Most present in adults although some present in the young. Many of these tumor types have imaging overlaps, although some have a characteristic appearance. MRI can aid in soft tissue delineation, evaluation of multicompartmental extension, intracranial spread, and perineural spread. Sinonasal tumors are a heterogeneous group for which soft tissue delineation via MRI forms an important role in ensuring adequate treatment planning to improve outcomes, decreasing morbidity, and improve functional outcomes.

A posterior skull base lesion is an uncommon radiological finding that may be noted incidentally or during targeted imaging of patients with clinical symptoms attributable to the lesion. It may be inflammatory or neoplastic in etiology, or may simply be an anatomic variant or a "don't-touch" lesion that should not be misinterpreted as something more ominous. A systematic approach to the evaluation of the posterior skull base is therefore required in order to differentiate lesions requiring immediate attention from those requiring a less urgent course of action or none at all. This review will focus on the imaging features of pathologic conditions that are more commonly encountered in posterior skull base CT and MR examinations.

Background: Acute neurological sequela in patients with COVID-19 infection include acute thromboembolic infarcts related to cytokine storm and post infectious immune activation resulting in a prothrombotic state. Radiologic imaging studies of the sinonasal tract and mastoid cavity in patients with COVID-19 infection are sparse and limited to case series. In this report, we investigate the radiologic involvement of nasal cavity, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, and mastoid cavity in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented with acute neurological symptoms. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records and neuroradiologic imaging in patients diagnosed with acute COVID-19 infection who presented with acute neurological symptoms to assess radiologic prevalence of sinus and mastoid disease and its correlation to upper respiratory tract symptoms. Results: Of the 55 patients, 23 (42%) had partial sinus opacification, with no evidence for complete sinus opacification. The ethmoid sinus was the most commonly affected (16/55 or 29%). An air fluid level was noted in 6/55 (11%) patients, most commonly in the maxillary sinus. Olfactory recess and mastoid opacification were uncommon. There was no evidence of bony destruction in any of the studies, Cough, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and sore throat were not significantly associated with any radiological findings. Conclusion: In patients who present with acute neurological symptoms, COVID-19 infection is characterized by limited and mild mucosal disease within the sinuses, nasopharynx and mastoid cavity. Level of Evidence: 4

Degenerative disease of the central nervous system is a growing public health concern. The primary role of neuroimaging in the workup of patients with probable or possible Alzheimer disease has typically been to exclude other significant intracranial abnormalities. In general, the imaging findings in structural studies, such as MRI, are nonspecific and have limited potential in differentiating different types of dementia. Advanced imaging methods are not routinely used in community or general practices for the diagnosis or differentiation of forms of dementia. Nonetheless, in patients who have been evaluated by a dementia expert, FDG-PET helps to distinguish Alzheimer disease from frontotemporal dementia. In patients with suspected dementia with Lewy bodies, functional imaging of the dopamine transporter (ioflupane) using SPECT may be helpful. In patients with suspected normal-pressure hydrocephalus, DTPA cisternography and HMPAO SPECT/CT brain may provide assessment. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Acute sialadenitis may be caused by viruses, including coronaviruses. Although there are anecdotal reports of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) salivary gland infections, there have been no well-documented cases of sialadenitis in patients with COVID-19 described in the literature. We report a case of parotitis and submandibular gland sialadenitis, as well as an isolated case of parotitis, in two patients with concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infections. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated parotid and submandibular gland enlargement with heterogenous enhancement and attenuation, consistent with sialadenitis. Medical management was sufficient for successful resolution of the acute sialadenitis. Laryngoscope, 130:2595-2597, 2020.

Ataxia can result from an abnormality in the cerebellum, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and/or vestibular system. Pathology involving the brain, such as infarct or hydrocephalus, can also present with ataxia as part of the symptom constitution, or result in symptoms that mimic ataxia. Clinical evaluation by history and careful neurological examination is important to help with lesion localization, and helps determine where imaging should be focused. In the setting of trauma with the area of suspicion in the brain, a head CT without intravenous contrast is the preferred initial imaging choice. If vascular injury is suspected, CTA of the neck can be helpful. When the area of suspicion is in the spine, CT or MRI of the spine can be considered to assess for bony or soft-tissue injury, respectively. In the setting of ataxia unrelated to recent trauma, MRI is the preferred imaging modality, tailored to assess the brain or spine depending on the area of suspected pathology. The use of intravenous contrast is generally helpful. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Neuroendocrine dysfunction includes suspected hyper- and hypofunction of the pituitary gland. Causative lesions may include primary masses of the pituitary such as pituitary microadenomas and macroadenomas, as well as extrinsic masses, typically centered in the suprasellar cistern. Clinical syndromes related to hormonal dysfunction can be caused by excessive hormonal secretion or by inhibited secretion due to mass effect upon elements of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Additionally, complications such as hemorrhage may be seen in the setting of an underlying mass and can result in hormonal dysfunction. MRI with high-resolution protocols is the best first-line test to evaluate the sella turcica and parasellar region. CT provides complementary information regarding bony anatomy, and may be appropriate as a first-line test in certain instances, but it provides less detail and lesion characterization when compared to MRI. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Deep learning with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has experienced tremendous growth in multiple healthcare applications and has been shown to have high accuracy in semantic segmentation of medical (e.g., radiology and pathology) images. However, a key barrier in the required training of CNNs is obtaining large-scale and precisely annotated imaging data. We sought to address the lack of annotated data with eye tracking technology. As a proof of principle, our hypothesis was that segmentation masks generated with the help of eye tracking (ET) would be very similar to those rendered by hand annotation (HA). Additionally, our goal was to show that a CNN trained on ET masks would be equivalent to one trained on HA masks, the latter being the current standard approach. Step 1: Screen captures of 19 publicly available radiologic images of assorted structures within various modalities were analyzed. ET and HA masks for all regions of interest (ROIs) were generated from these image datasets. Step 2: Utilizing a similar approach, ET and HA masks for 356 publicly available T1-weighted postcontrast meningioma images were generated. Three hundred six of these image + mask pairs were used to train a CNN with U-net-based architecture. The remaining 50 images were used as the independent test set. Step 1: ET and HA masks for the nonneurological images had an average Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.86 between each other. Step 2: Meningioma ET and HA masks had an average DSC of 0.85 between each other. After separate training using both approaches, the ET approach performed virtually identically to HA on the test set of 50 images. The former had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88, while the latter had AUC of 0.87. ET and HA predictions had trimmed mean DSCs compared to the original HA maps of 0.73 and 0.74, respectively. These trimmed DSCs between ET and HA were found to be statistically equivalent with a p value of 0.015. We have demonstrated that ET can create segmentation masks suitable for deep learning semantic segmentation. Future work will integrate ET to produce masks in a faster, more natural manner that distracts less from typical radiology clinical workflow.

There are a wide variety of diseases that affect the thyroid gland ranging from hyperplastic to neoplastic, autoimmune, or inflammatory. They can present with functional abnormality or a palpable structural change. Imaging has a key role in diagnosing and characterizing the thyroid finding for management. Imaging is also essential in the management of thyroid cancer. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

This section aims to cover the non-traumatic pathologies affecting the temporal bone including external auditory canal, middle ear and inner ear which usually need emergent clinical attention. Many of the conditions in this section are secondary to infections in different clinical settings with resultant complications which may leave temporary or permanent sequelae if not suspected, timely diagnosed or treated.

The differential diagnosis of a red and/or pulsatile retrotympanic mass includes aberrant internal carotid artery, persistent stapedial artery (PSA), glomus tympanicum, and dehiscent jugular bulb. By recognizing the features of aberrant internal carotid artery and PSA on high-resolution computed tomography, these entities can be assessed by the radiologist. PSA is further classified by type because each type demonstrates a unique set of imaging features in addition to features common to all types. Although rarely encountered, it is important to reliably and consistently detect these anomalies because failure to do so can lead to disastrous surgical outcomes.

Many patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection develop neurological signs and symptoms; although, to date, little evidence exists that primary infection of the brain is a significant contributing factor. We present the clinical, neuropathological and molecular findings of 41 consecutive patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections who died and underwent autopsy in our medical centre. The mean age was 74 years (38–97 years), 27 patients (66%) were male and 34 (83%) were of Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity. Twenty-four patients (59%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Hospital-associated complications were common, including eight patients (20%) with deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, seven (17%) with acute kidney injury requiring dialysis and 10 (24%) with positive blood cultures during admission. Eight (20%) patients died within 24 h of hospital admission, while 11 (27%) died more than 4 weeks after hospital admission. Neuropathological examination of 20–30 areas from each brain revealed hypoxic/ischaemic changes in all brains, both global and focal; large and small infarcts, many of which appeared haemorrhagic; and microglial activation with microglial nodules accompanied by neuronophagia, most prominently in the brainstem. We observed sparse T lymphocyte accumulation in either perivascular regions or in the brain parenchyma. Many brains contained atherosclerosis of large arteries and arteriolosclerosis, although none showed evidence of vasculitis. Eighteen patients (44%) exhibited pathologies of neurodegenerative diseases, which was not unexpected given the age range of our patients. We examined multiple fresh frozen and fixed tissues from 28 brains for the presence of viral RNA and protein, using quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR, RNAscope® and immunocytochemistry with primers, probes and antibodies directed against the spike and nucleocapsid regions. The PCR analysis revealed low to very low, but detectable, viral RNA levels in the majority of brains, although they were far lower than those in the nasal epithelia. RNAscope® and immunocytochemistry failed to detect viral RNA or protein in brains. Our findings indicate that the levels of detectable virus in coronavirus disease 2019 brains are very low and do not correlate with the histopathological alterations. These findings suggest that microglial activation, microglial nodules and neuronophagia, observed in the majority of brains, do not result from direct viral infection of brain parenchyma, but more likely from systemic inflammation, perhaps with synergistic contribution from hypoxia/ischaemia. Further studies are needed to define whether these pathologies, if present in patients who survive coronavirus disease 2019, might contribute to chronic neurological problems.

Objective To describe a case of bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and intralabyrinthine hemorrhage in a patient with COVID-19. Study design Clinical capsule report. Setting Tertiary academic referral center. Patient An adult woman with bilateral SSNHL, aural fullness, and vertigo with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection (IgG serology testing). Interventions High-dose oral prednisone with taper, intratympanic dexamethasone. Main outcome measures Audiometric testing, MRI of the internal auditory canal with and without contrast. Results A patient presented with bilateral SSNHL, bilateral aural fullness, and vertigo. Serology testing performed several weeks after onset of symptoms was positive for IgG COVID-19 antibodies. MRI showed bilateral intralabyrinthine hemorrhage (left worse than right) and no tumor. The patient was treated with two courses of high-dose oral prednisone with taper and a left intratympanic dexamethasone injection, resulting in near-resolution of vestibular symptoms, a fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear, and a severe to profound mixed hearing loss in the left ear. Conclusions COVID-19 may have otologic manifestations including sudden SSNHL, aural fullness, vertigo, and intralabyrinthine hemorrhage.

Neurologic involvement is well-recognized in COVID-19. This article reviews the neuroimaging manifestations of COVID-19 on CT and MRI, presenting cases from the New York City metropolitan region encountered by the authors during the first surge of the pandemic. The most common neuroimaging manifestations are acute infarcts with large clot burden and intracranial hemorrhage, including microhemorrhages. However, a wide range of additional imaging patterns occur, including leukoencephalopathy, global hypoxic injury, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum, olfactory bulb involvement, cranial nerve enhancement, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. The described CNS abnormalities largely represent secondary involvement from immune activation that leads to a prothrombotic state and cytokine storm; evidence for direct neuroinvasion is scant. Comorbidities such as hypertension, complications of prolonged illness and hospitalization, and associated supportive treatments also contribute to the CNS involvement in COVID-19. Routine long-term neurologic follow-up may be warranted, given emerging evidence of long-term microstructural and functional changes on brain imaging after COVID-19 recovery.

Purpose To report a case of neurovascular compression in a patient presenting with ophthalmic evidence of aberrant reinnervation. Observation A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with right partial third nerve palsy with aberrant regeneration. Suspicion was based on isolated clinical features of the right eye, including ptosis, upper eyelid elevation on adduction, mydriasis, exotropia, and hypotropia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed atrophy of the right oculomotor nerve secondary to neurovascular compression from a prominent right superior cerebellar artery. Conclusion and importance This case highlights the importance of utilizing Fast Imaging Employing Steady-state Acquisition (FIESTA) for the diagnosis of oculomotor nerve palsy presenting with evidence of aberrant reinnervation.

Even though teeth are often included in the field of view for a variety of medical CT studies, dental pathology is often missed by radiologists. Given the myriad morbidity and occasional mortality associated with sequelae of dental pathology, an important goal is to decrease these false negatives. However, given the ever-increasing volume of cases studies that radiologists have to read and the number of structures and diseases they have to evaluate, it is important not to place undue time restraints on the radiologist to this end. We hypothesized that generating panoramic dental radiographs from non-dental CT scans can permit identification of key diseases, while not adding much time to interpretation. The key advantage of panoramic dental radiographs is that they display the plane of the teeth in two dimensions, thereby facilitating fast and accurate assessment. We found that interpreting panoramic radiographic reconstructions compared to the full CT volumes reduced time-to-diagnosis of key dental pathology on average by roughly a factor of four. This expedition was statistically significant, and the average time-to-diagnosis for panoramic reconstructions was on the order of seconds, without a loss in accuracy compared to full CT. As such, we posit that panoramic reconstruction can serve as a one-slice additional series in any CT image stack that includes the teeth in its field of view.

A tonic pupil, without other features of an oculomotor neuropathy, is due to a lesion in the ciliary ganglion or short ciliary nerves. Here, we present a case of a tonic pupil in a woman with radiation-treated adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx with perineural spread and skull base involvement. This a rare case of a tonic pupil caused by direct invasion of the ciliary ganglion or postradiation effects.

Objective FSE sequences play key roles in neck MRI despite the susceptibility issues in neck region. Iterative decomposition of asymmetric echoes (IDEAL, GE) is a promising method that separates fat and water images resulting in high SNR and improved fat suppression. We tested how neck tissue contrasts, image artifacts and fat separation as opposed to fat suppression in terms of image quality compare between routine and IDEAL FSE. Methods IDEAL based and routine T1 and T2-weighted FSE sequences were applied for neck MRI at 1.5T and 3T. Overall image quality including fat suppression, tissue contrast, image artifacts and lesion conspicuity were subjectively assessed for 20 patients clinically indicated for neck MRI. Quantitative tissue contrast estimates from parotid area were compared between IDEAL and routine FSE for 7 patients. Four patients with oncocytoma were also reviewed to assess benefits of separately reconstructed fat specific image sets. Results Subjective tissue contrast and overall image quality including image sharpness, fat suppression and image artifacts were superior for IDEAL sequences. For oncocytoma fat specific IDEAL images provided additional information. Objective CNR estimates from a central slice were equivalent for IDEAL and routine FSE at both field strengths. Conclusions We demonstrated that high SNR inherent in IDEAL FSE consistently translates into high tissue contrast with image quality advantages in neck anatomy where large susceptibility variation and physiological motions reduce image quality for conventional FSE T1 and T2. However, the objective contrast estimates for parotid gland at isocenter were statistically equivalent for IDEAL and conventional FSE perhaps because at or near isocenter routine FSE works well. Additionally, fat specific IDEAL image sets add to diagnostic specificity for fat deficient lesions.

Visual loss can be the result of an abnormality anywhere along the visual pathway including the globe, optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tract, thalamus, optic radiations or primary visual cortex. Appropriate imaging analysis of visual loss is facilitated by a compartmental approach that establishes a differential diagnosis on the basis of suspected lesion location and specific clinical features. CT and MRI are the primary imaging modalities used to evaluate patients with visual loss and are often complementary in evaluating these patients. One modality may be preferred over the other depending on the specific clinical scenario. Depending on the pattern of visual loss and differential diagnosis, imaging coverage may require targeted evaluation of the orbits and/or assessment of the brain. Contrast is preferred when masses and inflammatory processes are differential considerations. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

This article provides a practical overview of head and neck cancers, outlining an approach to evaluating these lesions and optimizing imaging strategies. Recognition of key anatomic landmarks as suggested by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) criteria is emphasized. Further, the recently updated eighth edition of the AJCC staging manual has introduced some modifications that influence the TNM staging. These modifications are discussed throughout the article to provide an updated review on head and neck cancer.

Evaluation of cranial neuropathy can be complex given the different pathway of each cranial nerve as well as the associated anatomic landmarks. Radiological evaluation requires imaging of the entire course of the nerve from its nucleus to the end organ. MRI is the modality of choice with CT playing a complementary role, particularly in the evaluation of the bone anatomy. Since neoplastic and inflammatory lesions are prevalent on the differential diagnosis, contrast enhanced studies are preferred when possible. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidencebased guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Sudden hearing loss is a frightening symptom that often prompts an urgent or emergent visit to a health care provider. It is frequently, but not universally, accompanied by tinnitus and/or vertigo. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss affects 5 to 27 per 100,000 people annually, with about 66,000 new cases per year in the United States. This guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients who present with sudden hearing loss. It focuses on sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adult patients aged 18 and over and primarily on those with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Prompt recognition and management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life. The guideline update is intended for all clinicians who diagnose or manage adult patients who present with sudden hearing loss.The purpose of this guideline update is to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations in evaluating patients with sudden hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss, with particular emphasis on managing idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The guideline update group recognized that patients enter the health care system with sudden hearing loss as a nonspecific primary complaint. Therefore, the initial recommendations of this guideline update address distinguishing sensorineural hearing loss from conductive hearing loss at the time of presentation with hearing loss. They also clarify the need to identify rare, nonidiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss to help separate those patients from those with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, who are the target population for the therapeutic interventions that make up the bulk of the guideline update. By focusing on opportunities for quality improvement, this guideline should improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease variations in management, reduce unnecessary tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and rehabilitative outcomes for affected patients.Consistent with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation'sThe guideline update group made strong recommendations for the following: clinicians should distinguish sensorineural hearing loss from conductive hearing loss when a patient first presents with sudden hearing loss (KAS 1); clinicians should educate patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss about the natural history of the condition, the benefits and risks of medical interventions, and the limitations of existing evidence regarding efficacy (KAS 7); and clinicians should counsel patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss who have residual hearing loss and/or tinnitus about the possible benefits of audiological rehabilitation and other supportive measures (KAS 13). These strong recommendations were modified from the initial clinical practice guideline for clarity and timing of intervention. The guideline update group made strong recommendation against the following: clinicians shouldIncorporation of new evidence profiles to include quality improvement opportunities, confidence in the evidence, and differences of opinion Included 10 clinical practice guidelines, 29 new systematic reviews, and 36 new randomized controlled trials Highlights the urgency of evaluation and initiation of treatment, if treatment is offered, by emphasizing the time from symptom occurrence Clarification of terminology by changing potentially unclear statements; use of the term

Sudden hearing loss is a frightening symptom that often prompts an urgent or emergent visit to a health care provider. It is frequently but not universally accompanied by tinnitus and/or vertigo. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss affects 5 to 27 per 100,000 people annually, with about 66,000 new cases per year in the United States. This guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients who present with sudden hearing loss. It focuses on sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adult patients aged ≥18 years and primarily on those with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Prompt recognition and management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life. The guideline update is intended for all clinicians who diagnose or manage adult patients who present with sudden hearing loss.The purpose of this guideline update is to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations in evaluating patients with sudden hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss, with particular emphasis on managing idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The guideline update group recognized that patients enter the health care system with sudden hearing loss as a nonspecific primary complaint. Therefore, the initial recommendations of this guideline update address distinguishing sensorineural hearing loss from conductive hearing loss at the time of presentation with hearing loss. They also clarify the need to identify rare, nonidiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss to help separate those patients from those with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, who are the target population for the therapeutic interventions that make up the bulk of the guideline update. By focusing on opportunities for quality improvement, this guideline should improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease variations in management, reduce unnecessary tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and rehabilitative outcomes for affected patients.Consistent with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's "Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual, Third Edition" (Rosenfeld et al.The guideline update group madeIncorporation of new evidence profiles to include quality improvement opportunities, confidence in the evidence, and differences of opinion Included 10 clinical practice guidelines, 29 new systematic reviews, and 36 new randomized controlled trials Highlights the urgency of evaluation and initiation of treatment, if treatment is offered, by emphasizing the time from symptom occurrence Clarification of terminology by changing potentially unclear statements; use of the term

Non-traumatic orbital pathology can often have overlapping imaging features and challenging timely diagnosis. Prompt recognition is necessary due to potential risk of permanent visual loss. In this article we present systematic evaluation of non-traumatic orbital pathology with attention to key imaging features, pathogenesis and potential complications.

There are a wide variety of diseases that affect the thyroid gland ranging from hyperplastic to neoplastic, autoimmune, or inflammatory. They can present with functional abnormality or a palpable structural change. Imaging has a key role in diagnosing and characterizing the thyroid finding for management. Imaging is also essential in the management of thyroid cancer. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Ataxia can result from an abnormality in the cerebellum, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and/or vestibular system. Pathology involving the brain, such as infarct or hydrocephalus, can also present with ataxia as part of the symptom constitution, or result in symptoms that mimic ataxia. Clinical evaluation by history and careful neurological examination is important to help with lesion localization, and helps determine where imaging should be focused. In the setting of trauma with the area of suspicion in the brain, a head CT without intravenous contrast is the preferred initial imaging choice. If vascular injury is suspected, CTA of the neck can be helpful. When the area of suspicion is in the spine, CT or MRI of the spine can be considered to assess for bony or soft-tissue injury, respectively. In the setting of ataxia unrelated to recent trauma, MRI is the preferred imaging modality, tailored to assess the brain or spine depending on the area of suspected pathology. The use of intravenous contrast is generally helpful. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Temporal bone pathologies are challenging to discern because of their small size and subtle contrast. MR imaging is one of the key modalities in evaluating otologic diseases. Current advancement in MR techniques provide multiparametric information for evaluation of these pathologies. The aim of this article is to review state-of-the-art 3-dimensional morphologic and diffusion sequences for otologic MR imaging.

The differential diagnosis of a red and/or pulsatile retrotympanic mass includes aberrant internal carotid artery, persistent stapedial artery (PSA), glomus tympanicum, and dehiscent jugular bulb. By recognizing the features of aberrant internal carotid artery and PSA on high-resolution computed tomography, these entities can be assessed by the radiologist. PSA is further classified by type because each type demonstrates a unique set of imaging features in addition to features common to all types. Although rarely encountered, it is important to reliably and consistently detect these anomalies because failure to do so can lead to disastrous surgical outcomes.

Visual loss can be the result of an abnormality anywhere along the visual pathway including the globe, optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tract, thalamus, optic radiations or primary visual cortex. Appropriate imaging analysis of visual loss is facilitated by a compartmental approach that establishes a differential diagnosis on the basis of suspected lesion location and specific clinical features. CT and MRI are the primary imaging modalities used to evaluate patients with visual loss and are often complementary in evaluating these patients. One modality may be preferred over the other depending on the specific clinical scenario. Depending on the pattern of visual loss and differential diagnosis, imaging coverage may require targeted evaluation of the orbits and/or assessment of the brain. Contrast is preferred when masses and inflammatory processes are differential considerations. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Empirical studies of taste function in multiple sclerosis (MS) are rare. Moreover, a detailed assessment of whether quantitative measures of taste function correlate with the punctate and patchy myelin-related lesions found throughout the CNS of MS patients has not been made. We administered a 96-trial test of sweet (sucrose), sour (citric acid), bitter (caffeine) and salty (NaCl) taste perception to the left and right anterior (CN VII) and posterior (CN IX) tongue regions of 73 MS patients and 73 matched controls. The number and volume of lesions were assessed using quantitative MRI in 52 brain regions of 63 of the MS patients. Taste identification scores were significantly lower in the MS patients for sucrose (p = 0.0002), citric acid (p = 0.0001), caffeine (p = 0.0372) and NaCl (p = 0.0004) and were present in both anterior and posterior tongue regions. The percent of MS patients with identification scores falling below the 5th percentile of controls was 15.07 % for caffeine, 21.9 % for citric acid, 24.66 % for sucrose, and 31.50 % for NaCl. Such scores were inversely correlated with lesion volumes in the temporal, medial frontal, and superior frontal lobes, and with the number of lesions in the left and right superior frontal lobes, right anterior cingulate gyrus, and left parietal operculum. Regardless of the subject group, women outperformed men on the taste measures. These findings indicate that a sizable number of MS patients exhibit taste deficits that are associated with MS-related lesions throughout the brain., U.S. National Institutes of Health ( RO1 DC 02974 -- R01 NS 37172 -- R01 NS070906)