MRI findings of epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland with radiologic–pathologic correlation

• Published in: Japanese journal of radiology Vol. 40; no. 6; pp. 578 - 585
• Main Authors: Suto, Taketo, Kato, Hiroki, Kawaguchi, Masaya, Kobayashi, Kazuhiro, Miyazaki, Tatsuhiko, Ando, Tomohiro, Noda, Yoshifumi, Hyodo, Fuminori, Matsuo, Masayuki, Ishihara, Hiromasa, Ogawa, Takenori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.06.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Capsules; Carcinoma; Diffusion coefficient; Exocrine glands; Female; Humans; Imaging; Lesions; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nuclear Medicine; Oral cancer; Original; Original Article; Parotid gland; Parotid Gland - diagnostic imaging; Parotid Gland - pathology; Parotid Gland - surgery; Parotid Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Parotid Neoplasms - pathology; Parotid Neoplasms - surgery; Radiology; Radiotherapy; Retrospective Studies; Salivary glands; Septum; Spinal cord; Epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma; Parotid gland; MRI
• ISSN: 1867-1071; 1867-108X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11604-021-01243-0

Purpose This study aimed to describe the MRI findings of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) of the parotid gland. Materials and methods Seven patients (four males and three females) aged 40–86 years (mean age, 64 years) with histologically proven EMC of the parotid gland who underwent surgical resection after preoperative MRI were enrolled. MRI images were retrospectively reviewed and contrasted with pathological findings. Results Five patients (71%) had predominantly solid lesions, and two (29%) had predominantly cystic lesions. All seven lesions had well-demarcated margins and capsules without the invasion of adjacent structures. The capsules were incomplete in five lesions (71%) and complete in two (29%). Four lesions (57%) exhibited a multinodular structure with internal septa. Cystic components were observed in three lesions (43%). On T1-weighted images, the solid components were frequently homogeneous (5/7, 71%), and demonstrated isointensity in five lesions (71%) and hypointensity in two (29%) relative to the spinal cord. On T2-weighted images, the solid components were usually heterogeneous (6/7, 86%), and demonstrated hyperintensity in five lesions (71%) and isointensity in two (29%) relative to the spinal cord. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient value of the solid components was 0.967 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s. Conclusion Parotid gland EMCs usually appeared as predominantly solid lesions with well-demarcated margins and capsules. A multinodular structure with internal septa was characteristics of EMCs.