Background: Imaging of salivary gland tumors is a challenge for the radiologist due to varied histological features and overlapping clinical
presentation.The salivary glands have a glandular structure with tubules, secretory acini and myoepithelial cells to produce and secrete saliva. They
are divided into two types: major and minor. Parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands are the major paired salivary glands of the body.
Multiple small minor salivary glands are distributed in the upper aerodigestive tract including PNS & parapharyngeal spaces.
Objective: This study evaluates the role of different modalities used to assess salivary gland tumors.
Results: 50 patients presenting with suspected salivary gland masses were evaluated. 22 males and 28 females were assessed with age ranging
from 15 to 66 years (mean age of 52 years). 27 cases were of pleomorphic adenoma, 10 warthin tumors, 2 intraductal papilloma,1 lipoma, 1
oncocytoma,1 intra parotid paraganglioma, 2 hemangioma, 3 muco-epidermoid carcinoma, 2 adeno cystic cancer and 1 acinic cell cancer of
salivary gland. 90% of patients (45 out of 50) presented with swelling / lump. 26% of patients had pain /discomfort and 4% of patients (2 out of 50)
had facial nerve palsy.
Conclusion: The conventional radiological evaluation was carried out using Xray and ultrasound with USG as rst line of investigation.. Cross
sectional imaging with CT and MRI is useful in assessing for local extension , invasion of neighbouring structures as well as lymph nodal and
systemic metastasis.MRI is superior to CT in assesing for extent and perineural spread.
Role of myoepithelial cells in the development of salivary gland tumors
