We wanted to evaluate the radiologic characteristics of nasal-type NK/T cell lymphomas.

We reviewed twenty-one cases of pathologically proven nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphomas. CT scans were obtained for 21 patients, MR image were obtained for 3 patients, and both CT and MR scans were obtained for 3 patients. The imaging features regarding patterns of the masses, extension to adjacent tissue, bony changes and the degree of contrast enhancement were evaluated.

All of the 21 patients had diffuse mucosal thickening and 12 patients (12/21, 57%) also had polypoid masses. Nasal cavity lesions showed extension to the adjacent tissue in 20 cases (20/21, 95%). Adjacent bone erosion or destruction was noted in 14 cases (14/21, 67%) and the bone destruction was mild.

Nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphomas revealed a tendency to involve the superficial soft tissue and to extend into the adjacent structures. The typical imaging features of nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma were diffuse infiltrative lesion with or without polypoid masses in the nasal cavity and frequently extension to adjacent soft tissue, and especially the subcutaneous tissue.