Jc. Varghese et al., A prospective comparative study of MR sialography and conventional sialography of salivary duct disease, AM J ROENTG, 173(6), 1999, pp. 1497-1503
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accura
cy of MR sialography in the examination of patients with salivary duct dise
ase.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Forty-nine patients (23 males and 26 females; 16-78 y
ears old; mean age, 47 years) with symptoms related to the salivary glands
underwent both conventional sialography and MR sialography. The latter was
performed using a heavily T2-weighted, two dimensional, fast spin-echo tech
nique and a 12-cm circular surface coil. Contiguous 3-mm axial images with
frequency-selective fat suppression were acquired through the symptomatic g
land. The MR sialography findings were compared with the final diagnoses de
termined by conventional sialography.
RESULTS. Conventional sialography showed calculus disease (n = 13), strictu
re (n = 12), sialectasis (n = 4), cast (n = 3), neoplasm (n = 2), and norma
l duct (n = 16). MR sialography alone had a sensitivity of 69% in revealing
calculus disease. However, the sensitivity increased to 100% when MR sialo
grams were combined with control radiographs. MR sialography was sufficient
to accurately reveal stricture, sialectasis, and neoplasm and to direct th
erapy on the basis of its findings. Overall, MR sialography combined with c
ontrol radiographs had a sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy
of 100%, 88%, and 96%, respectively, in revealing salivary duct abnormaliti
es.
CONCLUSION. MR sialography alone is not sufficiently sensitive to reveal sa
livary duct stones. Caution must be exercised when excluding calculus disea
se. MR sialography, when combined with control radiographs, is accurate and
has the potential to replace conventional sialography.