E4870. Manifestation of Sickle Cell Disease in Head and Neck: Revisit
Authors
Serena Pham;
Boston University, Boston Medical Center
Vanesa Carlota Andreu-Arasa;
Boston University, Boston Medical Center
Naoko Saito;
Saitama Medical University International Medical Center
Inseon Ryoo;
Korea University Guro Hospital
Karen Buch;
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Osamu Sakai;
Boston University, Boston Medical Center
Background
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hematologic disorders, with recurrent episodes of a wide range of focal and systemic manifestations. Individuals with SCD often present with a spectrum of complications, such as vasoocclusive crises, infection, and stroke, resulting from deformed erythrocytes. Although there are imaging findings that correlate with most of these acute clinical presentations of SCD, diagnosing SCD-related head and neck complications remains a challenge for many radiologists and clinicians.
Educational Goals / Teaching Points
The objectives of this educational exhibit are to 1) review the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of SCD in the head and neck, 2) highlight the correlation between radiologic findings and the underlying unique pathophysiology of SCD, and 3) discuss the important clinical applications of new imaging techniques, such as dual-energy CT (DECT) and useful MRI sequences (e.g., susceptibility-weighted images, DWI, etc.), in comparison with conventional techniques, to delineate anatomic structures and evaluate SCD-related complications in the head and neck.
Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
Tremendous advancement in medical imaging in recent years, particularly with the clinical applications of DECT and new MRI techniques, have improved diagnostic assessment. This exhibit will demonstrate the diverse clinical applications of DECT and new MRI techniques, using a case-based approach, to highlight important imaging characteristics of frequently encountered pathologic entities of SCD in acute clinical settings, such as osteomyelitis.
Conclusion
Understanding the underlying pathophysiology and imaging findings that correlate for a wide spectrum of SCD manifestations in acute clinical settings will position radiologists and clinicians in pivotal roles of improving patient care. In this exhibit, we present diverse case-based clinical applications of advanced imaging techniques, such as DECT and new MRI sequences, to review and highlight the important radiologic and clinical manifestations of SCD in the head and neck.
