Sonoelastographic qualitative analysis for management of salivary gland masses.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to investigate whether the use of a qualitative elasticity scoring method by sonoelastography is beneficial for management of salivary gland masses.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with salivary gland masses (30 parotid and 6 sub-mandibular) were prospectively included in this study. For each lesion, B-mode sonographic and sonoelastographic images were obtained. Elasticity scores were determined by a 4-point scoring method. Differences among scores for benign and malignant masses were assessed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Qualitative variables were compared by the Pearson χ² test. The findings were compared with histopathologic diagnoses.


RESULTS
The score values of 28 benign masses ranged from 1 to 4, whereas the values of 8 malignant masses ranged from 2 to 4. The mean scores ± SD were 2.25 ± 0.92 for benign lesions and 3.0 ± 0.75 for malignant lesions (P < .05). When we considered scores 1 and 2 as benign and scores 3 and 4 as malignant, 10 false-positive results were determined by the 4-point scoring method, and 64.2% of benign masses were diagnosed.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonoelastography might be regarded as another sonographic parameter for management of salivary gland masses in terms of detecting benign masses.
Department of Radiology, Baskent University Zubeyde Hanim, Practice and Research Center, 6371 Sk, 34 Bostanli, Karsıyaka 35590 Izmir, Turkey. hasanyerli@yahoo.com
Hasan
H
Yerli
Erkan
E
Eski
Ekrem
E
Korucuk
Tolga
T
Kaskati
A Muhtesem
AM
Agildere
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity