Three-dimensional processing of ultrafast CT sialography for parotid masses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic potential of three-dimensional image processing of ultrafast CT sialography in comparison with conventional CT sialography in patients with parotid masses.


METHODS
In nine patients, CT sialography was done with three-dimensional image processing. The visibility of anatomic details and pathologic findings, derived from three-dimensional images, were graded numerically by three observers and compared with the findings obtained from conventional CT sialograms. Histopathologic specimens were obtained in all cases.


RESULTS
Ultrafast CT images showed no motion artifact. Three-dimensional CT sialography offered significant improvement in demonstration of ductal anatomy (2.5 +/- 0.2 versus 1.5 +/- 0.1, respectively) and ductal pathology (2.6 +/- 0.1 versus 1.1 +/- 0.2, respectively) over conventional CT sialography. In two cases, the therapeutic regimen was altered substantially.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrafast CT three-dimensional sialography has the potential to allow more precise presurgical planning and contributes to the diagnosis and therapy planning of parotid masses, especially in patients in whom MR image quality is degraded by motion artifact.
Szolar
D H
DH
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco Medical School 94143-0628, USA.
Groell
R
R
Preidler
K
K
Braun
H
H
Stiskal
M A
MA
Stammberger
H
H
Dillon
W P
WP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012796:Sialography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed