Characterization of parotid gland tumors using T2 mapping imaging: initial findings

Abstract

Background Preoperative accurate characterization of parotid gland tumors in different histologic types is crucial. T2 mapping has been proven to be useful for improving the accuracy of tumor characterization. Purpose To evaluate the ability of T2 mapping imaging in the characterization of parotid gland tumors. Material and Methods T2 mapping imaging was scanned in 74 patients (56 benign, 18 malignant) with pathologically confirmed parotid gland tumors. Mean T2 relaxation time was calculated and compared between benign and malignant group, and among malignant tumors, Warthin’s tumors, and pleomorphic adenomas. Independent-samples t test, one-way analysis of variance test, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used for statistical analyses. Results The malignant group showed significantly lower T2 relaxation times than the benign group ( P = 0.001). Using a relaxation time of 91.5 ms as the cut-off value, optimal diagnostic performance could be achieved (area under the curve [AUC] 0.679, sensitivity 46.4%, specificity 94.4%). Pleomorphic adenomas showed significantly higher T2 relaxation times than malignant tumors ( P = 0.003) and Warthin’s tumors ( P = 0.001). However, no significant difference was found on the T2 relaxation times between Warthin’s tumors and malignant tumors ( P = 0.435). Optimal diagnostic performance could be achieved (AUC 0.783, sensitivity 58.1%, specificity 94.4%), when setting a T2 value of 92.0 ms as the threshold value for differentiating pleomorphic adenomas from malignant tumors. Meanwhile, optimal AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.892, 87.1%, and 83.3%, respectively, when setting a T2 value of 80.5 ms as the threshold value for differentiating pleomorphic adenomas from Warthin’s tumors. Conclusion T2 mapping imaging could serve as an incremental imaging biomarker for characterizing parotid gland tumors.

MRI-Based Radiomics to Differentiate between Benign and Malignant Parotid Tumors With External Validation

“…This feature is directly related to the volume sphericity and showed increased values for Warthins' tumors, indicating that this kind of lesion has a more spherical shape than both malignant and benign tumors (p = 0.025 and p = 0.04 respectively, Mann-Whitney test). Concerning T2-w images, P10 was found to be relevant for differentiating benign and malignant lesions, with the latter showing significantly lower P10 values (p = 0.007, Mann-Whitney test) according to previous studies (5,19,23,32,33). In fact, it was demonstrated that high, intermediate, and low signal intensity can be associated with benign lesions (pleomorphic adenoma), intermediate, and highly malignant tumors, respectively (5,32).…”

“…The macroscopic imaging signs involved in the models (i.e., the type of margins and CE) were previously found to be useful in differential diagnosis ( 12 ). In fact, an ill-defined tumor border and low-grade contrast enhancement were observed as independent risk factors for malignancy, while a well-defined tumor margin was reported as a good qualitative indicator of benignity ( 12 , 23 ).…”

“…Some recent studies report that texture analysis of MRI may provide a useful and objective description of signal patterns, which contribute to accurate diagnosis between tumors that look alike by a visual inspection (11,13). The value of a computer-assisted discrimination of benign and malignant tumors has been explored in various organs (19)(20)(21), but only a few studies have assessed the contribution in parotid masses (12,(22)(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

Functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals dysfunction of the paraspinal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study

“…T2 mapping is a quantitative assessment technique mainly used to assess articular cartilage in musculoskeletal disorders ( 10 ) and can detect changes in cartilage collagen matrix and cartilage water content ( 11 ). Based on this ability, it is increasingly used for other conditions such as tumors ( 12 ), muscles ( 13 ), and intervertebral discs ( 14 ).…”

Quantitative T2 Mapping to Discriminate Mucinous from Nonmucinous Adenocarcinoma in Rectal Cancer: Comparison with Diffusion-weighted Imaging

“…T2 mapping is widely utilized to identify myocardial edema and fibrosis, 15,16 and it has the potential to distinguish benign and malignant tumors in mammary glands. 17 We hypothesized that T2 mapping can potentially distinguish MA from non-MA based on T2 values of tumors.…”