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Published on: December 19, 2013
Spontaneously infarcted parotid tumours: MRI findings
Nobuo Kashiwagi1, Tomoko Hyodo1, Kazunari Ishi1
11 Department of Radiology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine , Osaka-sayama, Osaka , Japan.
Objectives:
To report MRI findings of spontaneous infarction in parotid tumours.
Methods:
14 patients (13 male, 1 female; mean age 73 years) with spontaneously infarcted parotid tumours were reviewed retrospectively. MR images were assessed for the location, the presence of synchronous parotid masses, margin characteristics, signal intensity on T 1 and T 2 weighted images, and internal architecture according to the distribution of T 2 signal hyperintensity.
Results:
12 tumours were located in the parotid tail and 2 in the superficial lobe. Synchronous parotid masses were seen in four tumours, three of which were located in the ipsilateral parotid tail and one in the contralateral parotid tail. Seven tumours had well-defined margins and seven had ill-defined margins. The signal intensities on T 1 weighted images were a mixture of high and intermediate in all cases; in 11 tumours, hyperintense areas were dominant. On T 2 weighted images, all tumours also showed a mixture of high and intermediate signal intensities. Internal architectures on T 2 weighted images were mosaic hyperintensity in three tumours, central hyperintensity in five, and multiseparated hyperintensity in six.
Conclusions:
Spontaneously infarcted parotid tumours were mostly located in the parotid tail and showed mixed signal intensities with predominant hyperintensity on T 1 weighted images. Half of the tumours had ill-defined margins, and the internal architectures varied.
Insights
Spontaneously infarcted parotid tumors, often in the parotid tail, show mixed MRI signal intensities with prominent T1 hyperintensity. These tumors can have ill-defined margins and varied internal architecture on T2-weighted images.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Parotid tumors are common salivary gland neoplasms.
- Spontaneous infarction is a rare complication within parotid tumors.
- Accurate MRI characterization is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of parotid tumors that have undergone spontaneous infarction.
- To correlate MRI features with tumor location, margins, and internal architecture.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 14 patients with spontaneously infarcted parotid tumors.
- Detailed assessment of MRI sequences (T1- and T2-weighted images).
- Analysis of tumor location, presence of synchronous masses, margin characteristics, and internal architecture based on T2 signal hyperintensity distribution.
Main Results:
- Most infarcted tumors (12/14) were located in the parotid tail.
- Tumor margins were equally divided between well-defined (7/14) and ill-defined (7/14).
- MRI showed mixed T1 and T2 signal intensities, with dominant T1 hyperintensity in 11 cases. Internal architecture varied, including mosaic, central, and multiseparated hyperintensity patterns on T2-weighted images.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneously infarcted parotid tumors predominantly occur in the parotid tail.
- Characteristic MRI findings include mixed signal intensities with T1 hyperintensity and variable internal architecture.
- The presence of ill-defined margins in half of the cases highlights the importance of detailed MRI analysis for differentiating these lesions.
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