Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of parotid masses. Preliminary results

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the diagnostic potentials of MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in the detection of parotid masses correlated to the histopathological results. METHODS: Study design was retrospective. Fifteen patients with parotid gland masses were included as the study group and contralateral normal parotis glands of same patients were taken as the control group. Patients with bilateral parotid gland tumors were excluded, 7 right-sided and 8 left-sided parotid masses were included in the research. The study took place at the Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey, between May 2012 and September 2014. RESULTS: Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements of 15 parotis tumors in 1000 and 750 sec/mm(2) b-values with comparison to the contralateral normal gland parenchyma were demonstrated. Neurofibromas was predicted as the highest, and lipomas as the lowest ADC values. Pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin’s tumor, and normal parotid parenchyma indicate significant statistical differences from each other on the basis of mean ADC values (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The DWI and ADC mapping of parotis gland could aid in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant masses.