Parotid Gland Lesions: Multiparametric Ultrasound and MRI Features.
High-resolution ultrasound (US), as a readily available, cost-effective and harmless imaging technique, is appropriately the initial imaging modality for salivary gland lesions. Benign tumors are reported to present with regular and well-defined margins, a homogeneous hypoechoic structure and demarcated vessel distribution, whereas malignant lesions are irregular, heterogeneous and diffusely perfused. Ultrasound and color Doppler features of benign and malignant salivary gland lesions overlap, and many benign tumors, particularly pleomorphic adenomas, may appear irregularly shaped, with a heterogeneous echo-structure indistinguishable from a malignant lesion. Often skilled US operators are not always able to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. The introduction of US contrast agents has allowed further perspectives in the possible improvement of lesion characterization, and the emergence of US elastography, an innovative tool for assessing lesion stiffness/elasticity characteristics, has been advocated for differentiating salivary gland lesions. When lesions are atypical on US, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is usually the definitive imaging modality. We present a current review of benign and malignant parotid gland tumors with emphasis on the role of multiparametric US and MR imaging.
Department of Radiology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Cantisani
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, Policlinico "G. Martino", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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David
Radiology, King's College London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Sidhu
Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomopathological Sciences-Radiology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy, Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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Sacconi
Department of Sense Organs, ENT Section, Policlinico "Umberto I", Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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Greco
Department of Sense Organs, ENT Section, Policlinico "Umberto I", Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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Pandolfi
Department of Sense Organs, ENT Section, Policlinico "Umberto I", Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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Tombolini
Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomopathological Sciences-Radiology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy, Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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Lo Mele
Department of Radiology, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
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Calliada
Dipartimento di Medicina e di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
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Brunese
Department of Radiology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Catalano
Department of Sense Organs, ENT Section, Policlinico "Umberto I", Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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De Vincentiis
Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomopathological Sciences-Radiology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy, Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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Di Leo
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, Policlinico "G. Martino", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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Ascenti
Radioligical sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Univ. Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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D'Ambrosio
D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media