Characterization of Sinonasal Lesions on CT, MRI, and PET/CT

The differential diagnosis of sinonasal lesions includes benign and malignant disease. Current radiologic diagnosis depends on the complementary roles of CT and MRI. PET/CT has been widely utilized for diagnosis and staging of various types of tumors as well as assessing treatment response. This article summarizes distinguishing radiologic characteristics of sinonasal disease, including lesions that are FDG avid (squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma, inverted papilloma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and sinusitis), lesions that express somatostatin receptors (meningioma, esthesioneuroblastoma, and juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma), and lesions that are not FDG avid (mucocele, mucus retention cyst, and sinus meningoencephalocele). Furthermore, PET/MRI may better facilitate the diagnosis of sinonasal disease.