Training Collections
Library Memberships
On-demand course library with video lectures, expert case reviews, and more
Multispecialty PlansUP TO 25% OFF
Fellowship Certificate™ Programs
20% OFFPractice-focused training programs designed to help you gain experience in a specific subspecialty area.
Ultimate Learning Pass
UP TO 30% OFFUnlock access to our full Course Library and all self-paced Fellowships.
Continuing Medical Education (State CME)
Complete all of your state CME requirements in one convenient place.
Noon Conference (Free)
Get access to free live lectures, every week, from top radiologists.
Case of the Week (Free)
Get a free weekly case delivered right to your inbox.
Case Crunch: Rapid Case Review (Free)
Register for free live board reviews.
Dr. Resnick's MSK Conference
Learn directly from the MSK Master himself.
Lower Extremities MRI Conference
Musculoskeletal Imaging
Emergency Imaging
Emergency GI & Abdominal Radiology FellowshipNEW!
PET Imaging
Pediatric Imaging
For Training Programs
Supplement your training program with case-based learning for residents, registrars, fellows, and more.
For Private Practices
Upskill in high growth, advanced imaging areas.
Compliance
NewTrack, fulfill, and report on all your radiologists' credentialing and licensing requirements.
Emergency Call Prep
Prepare trainees to be on call for the emergency department with this specialized training series.
Training Collections
Library Memberships
On-demand course library with video lectures, expert case reviews, and more
Multispecialty PlansUP TO 25% OFF
Fellowship Certificate™ Programs
20% OFFPractice-focused training programs designed to help you gain experience in a specific subspecialty area.
Ultimate Learning Pass
UP TO 30% OFFUnlock access to our full Course Library and all self-paced Fellowships.
Continuing Medical Education (State CME)
Complete all of your state CME requirements in one convenient place.
Noon Conference (Free)
Get access to free live lectures, every week, from top radiologists.
Case of the Week (Free)
Get a free weekly case delivered right to your inbox.
Case Crunch: Rapid Case Review (Free)
Register for free live board reviews.
Dr. Resnick's MSK Conference
Learn directly from the MSK Master himself.
Lower Extremities MRI Conference
Musculoskeletal Imaging
Emergency Imaging
Emergency GI & Abdominal Radiology FellowshipNEW!
PET Imaging
Pediatric Imaging
For Training Programs
Supplement your training program with case-based learning for residents, registrars, fellows, and more.
For Private Practices
Upskill in high growth, advanced imaging areas.
Compliance
NewTrack, fulfill, and report on all your radiologists' credentialing and licensing requirements.
Emergency Call Prep
Prepare trainees to be on call for the emergency department with this specialized training series.
1 topic
8 topics, 31 min. of video
8 topics, 1 hr. 34 min. of video
8 topics, 48 min. of video
8 topics, 37 min. of video
8 topics, 26 min. of video
8 topics, 17 min. of video
8 topics, 1 hr. 24 min. of video
8 topics, 18 min. of video
8 topics, 23 min. of video
8 topics, 1 hr. 25 min. of video
0:05
Do you remember this case? Now? Now,
0:06
now this should be relatively straightforward to you because we sort of
0:09
discussed it. Yes. Yeah. So this is, so you tell me what this is then.
0:15
This one is, uh, T two first sprinkler, graft and normally Perfect.
0:19
Perfect. Now, now, how do you know that? So gimme a couple reasons. Let's
0:23
Start. Whenever we see a lesion in the parran,
0:27
which extend to the subular space,
0:30
we might think of this diagnosis.
0:33
Yes. Yes. And so clinically, how would the patient present with,
0:36
because this is a nice example here, when they looked in the ear,
0:41
how would they, how would they present with
0:46
Then we would see in the, uh, oscopy, you can see a,
0:50
a defect between the membranes and car carino.
0:56
E s C.
0:57
Yeah. I wouldn't say a defect. Defect. Mm-hmm. I wouldn't say a defect,
1:00
but I'd say like a little. I saw the
1:02
Papilla. Yes,
1:05
Yes, yes.
1:06
Pap is a, is a nole like that. It's a red color. Nole.
1:11
What do you mean? What, what do we mean by papilla? Is it a nole, A lesion?
1:17
Yeah. Yeah. A little cystic lesion. So think, oh,
1:20
Cystic, okay.
1:21
Yeah. A little cystic, because I think, I don't know what,
1:23
I had one of my otologist tell me. It's more common than you think it is,
1:26
because sometimes they'll see a little papilla right here, right, the junction,
1:29
the bony and cartilaginous junction of the eac, so, mm-hmm. You know, they'll,
1:34
they'll, then they'll say it's a little bit more common than you think it is.
1:37
Radiologically typically, they won't image that. They will just say, well,
1:41
I think that's what it is.
1:42
But the only times that we see it is that if it actually presents with a
1:47
subandi space mass. So in this case, you can see on the,
1:51
on your left screen,
1:53
we can see this cyst right here that's involved in the deep low,
1:56
the product line. And then on the coronal images,
2:00
then you can see this multi multiloculated cystic mass that probably
2:05
became infected extending into the subandi space.
2:08
So if they present with this, then they'll, then we'll end up doing a,
2:13
then we'll end up doing a, um, uh, an imaging study on it.
2:18
See this on the right hand side,
2:21
you can see the mass right here involved in the sub space there.
2:26
And now it's gonna involve the deep load of the product gland and come all the
2:29
way up into the.
Interactive Transcript
0:05
Do you remember this case? Now? Now,
0:06
now this should be relatively straightforward to you because we sort of
0:09
discussed it. Yes. Yeah. So this is, so you tell me what this is then.
0:15
This one is, uh, T two first sprinkler, graft and normally Perfect.
0:19
Perfect. Now, now, how do you know that? So gimme a couple reasons. Let's
0:23
Start. Whenever we see a lesion in the parran,
0:27
which extend to the subular space,
0:30
we might think of this diagnosis.
0:33
Yes. Yes. And so clinically, how would the patient present with,
0:36
because this is a nice example here, when they looked in the ear,
0:41
how would they, how would they present with
0:46
Then we would see in the, uh, oscopy, you can see a,
0:50
a defect between the membranes and car carino.
0:56
E s C.
0:57
Yeah. I wouldn't say a defect. Defect. Mm-hmm. I wouldn't say a defect,
1:00
but I'd say like a little. I saw the
1:02
Papilla. Yes,
1:05
Yes, yes.
1:06
Pap is a, is a nole like that. It's a red color. Nole.
1:11
What do you mean? What, what do we mean by papilla? Is it a nole, A lesion?
1:17
Yeah. Yeah. A little cystic lesion. So think, oh,
1:20
Cystic, okay.
1:21
Yeah. A little cystic, because I think, I don't know what,
1:23
I had one of my otologist tell me. It's more common than you think it is,
1:26
because sometimes they'll see a little papilla right here, right, the junction,
1:29
the bony and cartilaginous junction of the eac, so, mm-hmm. You know, they'll,
1:34
they'll, then they'll say it's a little bit more common than you think it is.
1:37
Radiologically typically, they won't image that. They will just say, well,
1:41
I think that's what it is.
1:42
But the only times that we see it is that if it actually presents with a
1:47
subandi space mass. So in this case, you can see on the,
1:51
on your left screen,
1:53
we can see this cyst right here that's involved in the deep low,
1:56
the product line. And then on the coronal images,
2:00
then you can see this multi multiloculated cystic mass that probably
2:05
became infected extending into the subandi space.
2:08
So if they present with this, then they'll, then we'll end up doing a,
2:13
then we'll end up doing a, um, uh, an imaging study on it.
2:18
See this on the right hand side,
2:21
you can see the mass right here involved in the sub space there.
2:26
And now it's gonna involve the deep load of the product gland and come all the
2:29
way up into the.
Report
Patient History
Left neck mass in a patient with fever and draining skin fistula.
Findings
Brain: Sagittal T1-weighted images demonstrate corpus callosum to be intact. No evidence of Chiari malformation. No abnormal pineal region masses. Pituitary gland is not enlarged. Diffusion imaging demonstrates no evidence of recent infarct. Axial FLAIR and T2 weighted images show the ventricular size, shape and configuration to be within normal limits. No evidence of vasogenic edema or mass effect. No abnormal intra-axial or extra-axial enhancing masses.
Neck: Pre- and postcontrast CT was performed from the skull base to the thoracic inlet. The study demonstrates a heterogeneous complex lesion that involves the left side of the neck. The sagittal and coronal T2 weighted images demonstrate a linear tract which extends from the expected location of the bony cartilages junction of the left external auditory canal that extends inferiorly into the parotid gland. The axial T2 and contrast-enhanced T1 weighted images demonstrate the linear tract to be associated with a cystic mass involving the deep lobe of the parotid gland which extends inferiorly into the left submandibular space and becomes a multicystic process with enhancing surrounding soft tissue which extends to the skin. There may be a draining skin fistula as there is an overlying skin marker.
There is diffuse mucosal thickening involving the left mastoid air cells.
Impressions
1. Findings most consistent with a type 2 first branchial anomaly that extends from the bony cartilaginous junction inferiorly of the external auditory canal through the deep lobe of the parotid gland with continued extension in the submandibular space. There are findings suggestive that this congenital anomaly is infected and is clinically associated with a skin fistula.
2. No evidence of vasogenic edema or mass effect.
3. No abnormal intra-axial or extra-axial enhancing masses.
Case Discussion
Faculty
David M Yousem, MD, MBA
Professor of Radiology, Vice Chairman and Associate Dean
Johns Hopkins University
Suresh K Mukherji, MD, FACR, MBA
Clinical Professor, University of Illinois & Rutgers University. Faculty, Michigan State University. Director Head & Neck Radiology, ProScan Imaging
Tags
Neuroradiology
MRI
Head and Neck
© 2026 Medality. All Rights Reserved.