Head and Neck Imaging

Masticator space, pathology

A lesion within the masticator space is usually sited in the ascending ramus or angle of the mandible, or within the masticatory muscles; the lesion is anterolateral to the parapharyngeal space . Trismus (masticatory muscle spasm causing inability to open the mouth) is a common symptom in masticator space pathology, restricting the clinician's examination of this area, and making the imaging findings of major importance.
Common lesions include:
- abscess, usually of dental origin (Fig. 1); this may be accompanied by mandibular osteomyelitis (see also abscess, dental ).
- squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck , either by direct invasion from the oropharynx (see oropharyngeal cancer ) or from the retromolar trigone, pathology , or by perineural tumour spread, head and neck along the inferior alveolar nerve and mandibular nerve.
- sarcoma, of either muscular or bony origin (see chondrosarcoma, head and neck , osteosarcoma, head and neck , rhabdomyosarcoma, head and neck ). (Fig. 2)
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck manifestation ( non-Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck manifestation ).

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Fig. 02b

Patient presenting with progressive swelling of the left cheek. Axial gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted spin echo images are shown.
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 01a (a)
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 01b (b)
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 01c (c)
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 01d (d)
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 02a (a)
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 02b (b)
Masticator space, pathology, Fig. 02c (c)