An Imaging Panorama of Salivary Gland Lesions as seen on High Resolution Ultrasound

Lesions of salivary gland are quite common. Clinical examination alone is not able to differentiate between them and pinpoint the exact cause. It would definitely benefit the patient as well as the doctor if they could get an idea of the exact type of lesion affecting the salivary gland. Hence, this retrospective study was undertaken to demonstrate how high resolution ultrasound imaging (HRUSG) can be useful in evaluation of salivary gland lesions.

In this retrospective study, imaging findings in patients who underwent HRUSG of salivary glands in the past five years were compiled. Analysis of the imaging findings and clinico-pathological correlation was then performed in this descriptive study.

Out of the 87 patients referred for HRUSG of salivary glands in the last five years, characteristic findings were found in 53 patients. HRUSG diagnosis of Acute Inflammation was made in 19 cases, Chronic Inflammation in 13 cases and Primary Neoplastic Lesions in 11 cases, Metastatic deposits in 3 cases and Salivary Calculus in 7 cases. No obvious abnormality was seen in rest of the 34 patients. HRUSG was found to be 93.33 % sensitive and 98.07% specific for diagnosing neoplastic lesions in salivary glands.

Patients with salivary gland pathologies may present either with clinically assessable symptoms or just with cosmetic deformities due to bulge in the salivary gland. Clinical examination alone cannot pinpoint the etiology. Sonography can satisfactorily enable visualization of the abnormality noninvasively. It not only confirms the presence or absence of pathology but also enables image guided tissue retrieval for final pathological diagnosis.