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Diffusion-weighted MRI for differentiation between sialadenitis and pleomorphic adenoma
Guilherme T C Terra1, Jefferson X D Oliveira1, Adalsa Hernandez2
11 Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to compare apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) among normal salivary glands, cases with sialadenitis and cases with pleomorphic adenoma of major salivary glands.
Methods:
22 patients (totalling 44 major salivary glands) diagnosed with either unilateral sialadenitis (on either parotid or submandibular gland) or parotid gland pleomorphic adenoma were selected. Contralateral non-affected glands (normal) were also analyzed. DW images were achieved using a spin-echo pulse sequence with a 1.5-T MRI device. Mean ADC values were compared among the three groups analyzed (contralateral normal glands, sialadenitis and pleomorphic adenoma).
Results:
The mean ADC values were significantly higher in cases of parotid sialadenitis (p = 0.001), but not in cases of submandibular sialadenitis (p = 0.466), as compared with the contralateral non-affected glands. Cases of pleomorphic adenoma presented the highest ADC values of the study. In addition, one-way ANOVA test revealed a significant difference among the three groups of parotid glands analyzed.
Conclusions:
Within the limitations of this study, the present results suggest that DWI allows for differentiation between parotid sialadenitis and pleomorphic adenoma.
