[Evaluation of soft tissue lesions affecting the masticator space with dynamic contrast enhanced MRI].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the characteristics and diagnostic value of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the masticator space (MS).


METHODS
Prior to managements, conventional MRI and DCE-MRI were performed in 53 patients who suffered from primary or secondary soft tissue lesions affecting the MS. The time to peak (TTP), relative maximum enhancement (RME) and relative washout ratio (RWO) were separately calculated.


RESULTS
Mean TTP of benign and malignant lesions were (130.3 ± 13.2) and (69.6 ± 6.9) s, respectively. Mean RWO of benign and malignant lesions were (29.7 ± 5.5)% and (8.7 ± 2.1)%, respectively. Malignant lesions had a significantly shorter TTP(P = 0.001) and lower RWO (P = 0.003) than benign lesions. When TTP was less than 92.2 s and RWO less than or equal to 16.0%, malignant tumors were considered. DCE-MRI had a sensitivity of 72.3%, specificity of 93.5%, accuracy of 84.9%, positive predictive value of 88.9%, and negative predictive value of 82.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
As a non-invasive imaging technique, DCE-MRI is valuable to differentiate benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the MS.
Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China.
Wei-qing
WQ
Tang
Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China.
Wei-jie
WJ
Le
Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China.
Ping-zhong
PZ
Wang
Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China.
Hui-min
HM
Shi
Department of Radiology, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China. Email: yuqiang6155@163.com.
Qiang
Q
Yu
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles; D008875:Middle Aged; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013284:Stomatognathic System; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media