Capsule of parotid gland tumor: evaluation by 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging using surface coils.
BACKGROUND
magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of parotid gland tumors has been widely reported, although few reports have evaluated the capsule of parotid gland tumors in detail.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of 3.0 T MR imaging with surface coils for detection of the parotid gland tumor capsule, and to clarify the characteristics of the capsules.


METHODS
seventy-eight patients with parotid gland tumors (63 benign and 15 malignant) were evaluated. Axial and coronal T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were obtained using a 3.0 T MR scanner with 70 mm surface coils. It was retrospectively assessed whether each parotid gland tumor was completely surrounded by a capsule. The capsule was classified as regular or irregular in terms of capsular thickness, and as none, mildly, or strongly enhancing in terms of contrast enhancement. Visual interpretations were compared with histopathological findings to evaluate the diagnostic ability of MR imaging to detect parotid gland tumor capsules. Statistical evaluation was conducted concerning the presence of capsules, capsular irregularity, and the difference in contrast enhancement between benign and malignant tumors, and that between pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin's tumors.


RESULTS
capsules completely surrounding the tumor on MR imaging yielded a sensitivity of 87.7% (50/57), specificity of 90.5% (19/21), and accuracy of 88.5% (69/78). Benign tumors had a capsule completely surrounding the tumor significantly more often than malignant tumors (P = 0.009). Concerning capsular irregularity, malignant tumors tended to have more irregular capsules than benign tumors, although there were no significant differences. The capsules of malignant tumors enhanced significantly more strongly than those of benign tumors (P = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
3.0 T MR imaging using surface coils could correctly depict parotid gland tumor capsules in most cases. Most benign and some malignant tumors had capsules completely surrounding the tumors. Malignancy should be considered in tumors with irregular and strongly enhancing capsules.
Ishibashi
Mana
M
Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological and TherapeuticScience, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1, Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, Japan. ishibashi-ttr@umin.ac.jp
Fujii
Shinya
S
Kawamoto
Katsuyuki
K
Nishihara
Keisuke
K
Matsusue
Eiji
E
Kodani
Kazuhiko
K
Kaminou
Toshio
T
Ogawa
Toshihide
T
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D005682:Gadolinium