الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Purpose: To investigate the potential application of new MRI techniques with emphasis to diffusion weighted echo planar imaging (DW-EPI) in characterization and differentiation between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors. Results: The mean ADC value of the normal parotid gland was found to be 1.12 ± 0.12 x 10-3mm²/s. The mean ADC value for benign tumors was 1.16 ± 0.31 x 10⁻³mm2/s and mean relative ADC value was 1.6, while the mean ADC and relative ADC values of malignant tumors found to be 0.82 x 10⁻³mm²/s and 1.04 respectively. However overlap still exists. ROC analysis produced cut off values of 0.93 x 10-3 mm2/sec and 1.01 between benign and malignant lesions with sensitivity 72.09% & 89% and specificity 82% & 86% for the absolute and relative ADC values respectively. Conclusion: Determining whether a parotid gland tumor is benign or malignant on the basis of combining morphologic features and DWIs & ADC measurements in a diagnostic noninvasive approach are very promising and might decrease number of unnecessary invasive procedures e.g. biopsies or inappropriate extensive surgical approaches for benign parotid lesions |