CT Findings of the Angiomatous Polyp in the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus

PURPOSE: To assess the characteristic CT findings of the angiomatous polyp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fivecases of pathologically-proven angiomatous polyp were retrospectively evaluated. All underwent CT scanning, butin only four cases were postcontrast CT scans obtained. In analysing CT findings we focused on adjacent bonychange, and the extent and enhancement pattern of the mass. RESULTS: All but one case involved the maxillarysinus, showing thickening of the posterolateral wall and erosion or destruction of the medial wall. As forinvolvement of the anterior wall of this sinus, bony destruction was seen in one case, and thickening in three. Infour cases the tumor involved the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity, and two cases showed nasopharyngeal extension.No case involved the pterygopalatine fossa, however. On contrast enhanced CT scans(n=4), all cases showedenhancement as strong as blood vessels, and a multiple focal punctate or tubular pattern. CONCLUSION: Angiomatouspolyp tends to show bone thickening rather than bone destruction, not to involve the pterygopalatine fossa, and toreveal a strong punctate or tubular enhancement pattern. These findings may be helpful in the differentialdiagnosis of angiomatous polyp from other tumors such as maxillary cancer, angiofibroma and nasal polyp