Abstract
In diagnosing parotid tumors, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) seems to be markedly superior to CT in the following ways: increased ability to contrast and differentiate between soft tissues; improved imaging of vascular structures without the use of a contrast medium; the possibility of three-dimensional tomography; and the ability to study the basicranial bone or air in the paranasal sinuses without artifacts. In this study, the authors examined the MRI findings in 3 cases of parotidectomy in which observation of the gland of the unaffected side was also made.
(1) The anatomical position of the tumor could be located exactly, and discrimination could also be made between the surrounding tissue and the tumor by the comprehensive examination of each 3-dimenjional image.
(2) The retromandibular vein could be located in all horizontal images. In 1 of the 3 cases, the position of a tumor, whether pars superficialis or pars profunda, could be determined from the position of the vein.
(3) Malignancy could not be determined on the basis of the morphology and inner structure of the tumor.
