title: Evaluation of microvascularization in focal salivary gland lesions by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and Color Doppler sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dynamic microvascularization of focal salivary gland lesions by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and Color Doppler sonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-eight patients with 183 major salivary gland lesions (mean age, 56 years; age range, 12-83 years) underwent gray-scale ultrasonography (US), Color Doppler (CD) and CEUS. The CD and CEUS patterns were classified into three types (scores 0-3). Combined score grades were calculated based on the CD and CEUS pattern scores. The time-intensity curve (TIC) parameters of CEUS were then analyzed. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of combined score grades were also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all the lesions, there were 161 in parotid gland, 22 in submandibular gland and 157 lesions were benign and 26 were malignant. For score grades (combined CEUS patterns with CD types), scores 1-2 were graded as benign; scores 3-4 were graded as indetermination-suspicious benign or malignant and scores 5-6 were graded as malignant.score 5-6 and score 1-2 indicated 24 (92.3%) and 135 (85.9%) malignant and benign lesions confirmed pathologically, respectively. The sensitivity and negative predicted value of combined score grades for malignant lesions were 92.3% and 98.5%, respectively. In addition, TIC analysis indicates that PI and AUC in malignant lesions were higher than those in benign lesions (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined score grade could be a useful method to assess the macro-and micro-vascularization and to differentiated diagnose benign and malignant lesions in major salivary glands.
authors: Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasonography, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Wei
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Sheng
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Xubin
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Hailing
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Xu
authors: X
authors: Yong
authors: Xiaoqing
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Gao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult