Sonographic diagnosis of parotid gland lesions: correlation with the results of sonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to assess the value of ultrasound (US) in differentiating benign from malignant parotid gland lesions.


METHODS
During a 3-year period, US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed on 89 parotid lesions with a size > or = 5 mm in 68 patients. In 80 (90%) lesions, specimens were adequate for cytologic analysis. We recorded the seven following US parameters: size, number, echogenicity, echotexture, margins' clarity, distal acoustic enhancement, and regional lymph node enlargement.


RESULTS
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed 18 (22%) malignant tumors, 30 (38%) benign tumors, and 32 (40%) nonneoplastic lesions. The mean size of the malignant tumors was 25 +/- 17 mm versus 27 +/- 17 mm for benign tumors versus 21 +/- 12 mm for nonneoplastic lesions (p > 0.05). Among 33 solitary tumors, 9 were malignant tumors and 24 were benign tumors. The majority of the parotid lesions were hypoechoic. The US feature that was most often associated with a benign lesion was distal acoustic enhancement. The US features that suggested malignancy were a heterogeneous echotexture, indistinct margins, and regional lymph node enlargement.


CONCLUSIONS
US can aid in the differentiation of parotid gland tumors, although benign and malignant parotid tumors often have a similar sonographic appearance.
Kovacević
Dragica Obad
DO
Department of Diagnostic and Intervention Radiology, University Hospital "Merkur", University School of Medicine, Zajceva 19,10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Fabijanić
Iris
I
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult