Role of Imaging in Salivary Gland Tumours

Abstract

BACKGROUNDSalivary gland neoplasms account for <3% of all tumours. Most of them are benign in nature. Parotid gland is the commonest site for salivary gland tumour. Ultrasound is an ideal tool for initial screening of tumour. If deep tissue extension is present, MRI or CT is done to evaluate tumour extent, local invasion, and perineural spread. METHODSAbout 50 patients who came for evaluation of suspicious salivary gland tumour were included in the study from August 2018 to September 2018. All patients underwent USG, CT and MRI examination for radiological confirmation of salivary gland tumour and its extension. All patients underwent biopsy for histopathological confirmation of radiological diagnosis. RESULTSObservations were made according to age, sex, site, symptoms, USG, CT and MRI appearance of the tumours and the study data was analysed. It was found that most of the benign tumours were observed in age range of 31-40 years (42.85%) and most of the malignant tumours were observed in the age range of 41-50 years (45.45%). Benign tumours were more commonly observed in female patients (57.14%) and most of malignant tumours were observed in male patients (63.63%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of ultrasound for diagnosis of salivary gland tumours is 78.57%, 81.82%, 84.62%, 75.00% and 80.00%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of CT for diagnosis of salivary gland tumours is 75.00%, 94.44%, 90.00%, 85.00% and 86.67% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of MRI for diagnosis of salivary gland tumours is 87.50%, 85.71%, 87.50%, 85.71% and 86.67% respectively. CONCLUSIONSMRI is marginally superior to CT in differentiating benign from malignant salivary gland tumours. Ultrasound is the ideal initial investigation for evaluating submandibular masses and lesions in the superficial lobe of parotid particularly as it can be readily combined with FNAC. CT and MRI are certainly morphologically equivalent studies and have the same diagnostic potential in salivary gland tumours. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:Chauhan DR, Vadhiya RB, Chauhan BJ, et al. Role of imaging in salivary gland tumours.