MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SIALOGRAPHY AS A NEW D IAGNOSTIC-TECHNIQUE IN PAROTID-GLAND DISEASE

The new technique of non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) sialography was evaluated for normal and various pathologic conditions of the paro tid gland. Ten volunteers and 15 patients with various symptomatic dis eases of the parotid gland were tested in the present study. Diseases included pleomorphic adenoma, cystadenolymphoma, carcinoma ex pleomorp hic adenoma, ductal carcinoma,adenoid cystic carcinoma, lymphoepitheli al carcinoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, sialolithiasis, sialadenitis, He erfordt's syndrome and congenital duct ectasies. ln addition to the us ually performed T1 and T2 cross-sectional sequences a heavily weighted T2 sequence (TR 3600, TE 800) was performed and allowed depiction of a fluid-filled parotid duct. Results showed that the main parotid and primary branching ducts were depicted reliably in all normal cases and all patients, except one with sicca syndrome. Pathological conditions such as duct dilatations, duct strictures, obstructing duct calculus and irregular shapes and courses of the ductal system were demonstrabl e. While X-ray sialography obtained a higher resolution, only MR sialo graphy was able to depict dilated ducts proximal from a complete obstr uction, as well as all ductal cysts. Our findings show that MR sialogr aphy can be applied successfully to investigations of the parotid glan d system. There have been no contraindications or complications to dat e because MR sialography is non-invasive. The technique will also allo w the salivary ducts and lesions to be differentiated from the course of the facial nerve.