Computerized Tomography with Contrast Sialography of Parotid Lesions

Abstract

Computerized tomography combined with contrast sialography (CT-sialography) was applied to 19 patients with swelling of the parotid region. They consisted of 11 cases of benign tumors (10 of pleomorphic adenoma and 1 of neurinoma), 5 of malignant tumors (mucoepidermoid carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, carcinoma simplex and osteosarcoma) and 3 of inflammatory lesions (2 of lymphadenitis). The margin of a mass was clearly visualized by this method irrespective of its site, whether it was in a superficial or deep lobe of the parotid gland. This method was effective in differentiating mass lesions from inflammatory ones, as demonstrated 2 mass lesions of the parotid gland clearly. But since CT-sialography proved ineffectiveness in differentiating benign and malignant masses, combination with other method (s) are advisable.