Abstract
Background
We compared the ultrasound features, superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and micro vessel density (MVD) of pleomorphic adenoma (PA), Warthin’s tumor (WT) and basal cell adenoma (BCA) to explore the clinic value of SMI in differential diagnosis of benign tumors of parotid gland.
Methods
The vascular distributions and grade by color doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and SMI, as well as vascular index (VI) of 249 parotid gland masses from 217 patients were analyzed.
Results
The internal echogenicity of BCA are more homogeneous in comparing with WT and PA(P < 0.05). By SMI, the vascular distribution and vascular grade in PA were mainly peripheral (33.1%) and avascular (25.7%), Grade 1 (27.8%) and Grade 0 (25.7%). WT were mainly central (31.3%) and mixed distribution (34.9%), in Grade 3 (37.3%) and Grade 2 (36.2%). BCA was mainly peripheral (33.3%) and mixed distribution (33.3%), in Grade 2 (33.3%) and Grade 3 (33.3%). The overall detection rate of SMI for vascular Grade 2 and 3 was significantly higher than that of CDFI (P < 0.05). Both VI and MVD were lowest in PA, highest in WT (P < 0.001). The VI by SMI was correlated with MVD (P < 0.001). The correlation index between vascular distribution and grade by SMI and MVD were significantly higher than CDFI.
Conclusion
SMI can provide low-velocity blood flow information, which is helpful for the differential diagnosis of common benign tumors of parotid gland, and is expected to be more widely used.
The Promising Role of a Superb Microvascular Imaging Technique in the Evaluation of Raynaud’s Syndrome in Systemic Sclerosis: Theory and Practical Challenges
