1. USEFULNESS OF MRI IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SALIVARY GLAND PATHOLOGIES

2. AIM
To assess the usefulness of MRI in the diagnosis of salivary gland pathologies

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
24 patients with clinical suspicion of salivary gland pathologies were subjected to MRI during May 2013 –October Dedicated MRI of the salivary glands were performed comprising of T1, T2, T2 FS, DIFFUSION, CISS and GRADIENT images obtained in axial plane. In addition CORONAL STIR and SAGITTAL T2 weighted images were also obtained. Out of the 24 patients, the findings could be correlated with surgical / histo pathological findings in 9 and by clinical follow up in 10. Five patients were excluded as follow up could not be obtained

4. RESULTS
Out of the 19 patients, 11 were females and 8 were males. Out of 19 patients, 18 had parotid pathologies and 1 had submandibular gland pathology. The parotid pathologies encountered were parotitis (10), pleomorphic adenoma (3), parotid cyst (1), AVM of parotid (1), haemangioendothelioma (1), recurrent sialadenitis (1), bilateral parotid microabscesses (1). The submandibular gland pathology encountered was submandibular lipoma (1). There was good correlation between MRI features and surgical / histo pathological findings/ clinical follow up

5. CONCLUSION
There are certain MRI characteristics for each of the common salivary gland pathologies which helps in the exact diagnosis. MRI showed an accuracy of 95% in diagnosis of salivary gland pathologies. Hence MRI is an extremely useful in the diagnosis of salivary gland pathologies.