Impact of newer generation multidetector computed tomography on the diagnosis of abscesses in the head and neck.

Objective: To understand how newer generation multidetector computed tomographic (NGCT) scanner technology (≥ 16 slices) has affected the imaging characteristics of head and neck abscesses.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral centre.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with a head and neck abscess who underwent a soft tissue neck computed tomographic (CT) scan were identified from September 1, 2001, to December 1, 2008. The degree of rim enhancement, delta (Δ), was graded using mean Hounsfield units (HU) from five peripheral points and five central points from a representative CT slice. The difference was then calculated and compared between older generation computed tomography (OGCT; < 16 slices) and newer generation multidetector computed tomography (NGCT; ≥ 16 slices) using the Student t-test. A p value < .05 was considered significant.

Results: Forty-eight patients met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 20 were scanned with OGCT and 28 were scanned with NGCT. The mean peripheral point values were OGCT  =  78 HU (95% CI 71-86 HU), NGCT  =  74 HU (95% CI 68-80 HU); p  =  .3. The mean central point values were OGCT  =  24 HU (95% CI 21-28 HU), NGCT  =  26 HU (95% CI 21-31 HU), p  =  0.7. The mean delta values (mean peripheral HU--mean central HU) were OGCT  =  52 HU (95% CI 43-61 HU), NGCT  =  46 HU (95% CI 41-52 HU), p  =  .2.

Conclusion: There is no significant difference between OGCT and NGCT in the amount of rim enhancement seen on CT scans of head and neck abscesses.