A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CT AND MRI FINDINGS FOR EVALUATING NECK MASSES IN ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Neck masses in the adults represent the prevalent clinical issue that has broad spectrum of the etiologies, such as inflammatory, congenital and the malignant. The first and most important things to do is to detect benign and malign lesions early and accurately to treat them properly. Other imaging modalities like MRI and CT are important.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of CT and MRI in evaluating the morphological features, enhancement patterns, and tissue characteristics of neck masses in adult patients.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done on 73 patients, they examined the characteristics of CT and MRI and compared them with the final diagnoses using statistical tests.

Results: CT and MRI imaging features showed a strong correlation with the final diagnosis (p < 0.001). CT effectively demonstrated structural details such as morphology and calcifications, while MRI provided superior soft tissue characterization and lesion differentiation. The combined use of both modalities improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence. Overall, their complementary role ensures a more reliable evaluation of neck masses.

Conclusion: CT and MRI both play essential and complementary roles in evaluating adult neck masses. CT is superior for assessing morphology, calcifications, and structural details, while MRI offers better soft-tissue characterization and differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Combining both modalities improves diagnostic accuracy and supports earlier detection. This integrated approach also enhances clinical decision-making and reduces the risk of misdiagnosis.