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Tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell

Presentation

Right neck swelling, painless. Squamous cell carcinoma on fine needle aspirate of enlarged lymph nodes

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Female

Ultrasound

ultrasound

Needle entering enlarged palpable lymph node.

PET-CT

Nuclear medicine

FDG PET-CT showing intense activity in the right palatine tonsil, and to a lesser extent activity in left palatine tonsil and right level 2 and 3 lymph nodes.

MRI

mri

The findings on PET-CT confirmed with right and left-sided palatine tonsillar masses with lymph nodes enlargement. Note characteristic restricted diffusion on DWI images. Nodes are both solid and cystic.
On the axial DWI b = 800, indicating restricted diffusion in both palatine masses (arrows) and b = 800, indicating restricted diffusion in right neck lymphadenopathy (arrows)

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