Head and Neck imaging

Team: Widmann G, Jöbstl A, Luger A, Deeg J

The University Clinic for Radiology has been intensively involved in the development and evaluation of low-dose protocols according to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Acceptable) / ALADA (As Low As Diagnostically Acceptable) principle using low-kv protocols and various iterative reconstruction techniques. ALADA quality parameters were determined for CT examinations of temporal bones and jawbones and an ultra-low-dose protocol for fracture diagnosis of the midface with over 90% dose reduction compared to conventional protocols was established. The research achievements were recognized with the Dr. Franz Holeczke Prize from the Association for Medical Radiation Protection in Austria.

Recent projects examine the clinical relevance of cross-sectional areas of the nasal cavity, external and internal nasal valve, and nasal septal swell body for the characterization and pre-surgical evaluation of nasal obstructions.

Together with the University Clinic for ENT, a radiomics database is being set up to record the volume of tumors and lymph node metastases, growth rates, texture analyzes and body composition measurements.

Abb. 1. Ultralow dose protocol of the facial skull with a CTDIvol 2.5 mGy. Fracture of the lateral maxillary sinus wall and orbital floor circled in green. The arrow shows adequate exposure of the inferior rectus muscle.

Abb. 2. Low dose imaging of the temporal bone. Reference protocol (RP FBP) CTDIvol 83.7 mGy versus study verified low dose protocol (LD1 FBP) with 26.79 mGy. CBCT - Cone beam CT.

Abb. 3. Identification of four planes perpendicular to the curved airflow in the anterior nose in a midsagittal section to calculate different cross-sectional areas in patients with nasal obstruction: e CT-CSA0. f CT-CSA30. g CT-CSA60. h CT-CSA90. Giotakis et al. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023.

Abb. 4. : Volumetry of tumors, lymph node metastases and muscles in head and neck cancer patients.