What Does Soft Tissue Stranding In A CT Report Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 21 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 21 Jan 2015 Answered on

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I had a CT of my neck for recurrent parotid gland swelling. The report indicated extra soft tissue stranding into the subcutaneous tissue, consistent with inflammation of the parotid gland. What does soft tissue stranding mean? What is the next step?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stranding means edema in subcutaneous tissue.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Soft tissue stranding is seen in CT findings due to edema(swelling due to fluid) and it is generally seen in infective changes. Infection causes surrounding swelling due to leakage of fluid.
It is a common finding and it will resolve with control of infection.
You are rightly prescribed antibiotics.
It can be presumed that there are no other complications in parotid gland since it is not mentioned in the report.
There is no need of further investigations.Your condition can be managed by antibiotics.

Get well soon.
Hope i have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (27 hours later)

Thank you for the response.

The swelling is bilateral and began about 6 weeks ago and was accompanied with cold/flu like symptoms. I was fatigued and did not feel well, mild sore throat. The doctor did CBC with all normal (excellent) results, ANA and rheumatoid factor were both negative. I am in good health otherwise. Her initial treatment was to let it run it's course without antibiotics and indicated it may be anxiety related....

After the swelling recurring, going down, and returning over the following month, 3 weeks ago, she prescribed the antibiotics which did not seem to initially work.

The CT was then ordered. The CT report stated:
There are extra soft tissue strands extending into the adjacent subcutaneous tissues. There is no evidence of any adenopathy or masses otherwise. The visualized thoracic inlet is negative. The visualized brain appears normal. There are changes of degenerative disk disease in the cervical spine. no other bony abnormality is seen. Extra soft tissue strands about both parotid glands consistent with inflammation of both parotid glands.
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The antibiotic dose was lengthened. The swelling is almost gone, but seems to occur at night, but quickly resolves in the morning with a hot shower. The cold/flu symptoms are gone, but some fatigue still lingers. There is very infrequent mild pain at the back of the jaw when it is swollen. I still have 2 more days of antibiotics and it seems to be going away.

Is there any potential underlying causes I may want to have investigated? My doctor suggests assuming it is resolved and see if it recurs. The bilateral nature concerns me somewhat, but if there are no further symptoms, may I reasonably believe it is not some other underlying cause?

Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I don't think you need further investigations for this condition.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

There is no need to be so worried.Infection may be bilateral and you are responding well to antibiotics.This confirms infective etiology.

It is good that all probable investigations has been done and all are negative including autoimmune causes.

I don't think you need further investigations for this.

Get well soon.
Hope i have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar