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MRI of chronic sclerosing sialoadenitis

Departments of ¹ Radiology and ² Otolaryngology, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan 260-8677 and ³ Department of Molecular Pathology, Chiba Postgraduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuoku, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan 260-8670

Correspondence: Ken Motoori, Department of Radiology, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan, 260-8677. E-mail: motoorik{at}faculty.chiba-u.jp

The purpose of our study was to describe the MR appearance of Kuttner's tumours and to interpret their differences in appearance from other submandibular gland tumours. MR studies of 7 Kuttner's, 8 malignant and 12 benign submandibular gland tumours were reviewed. MR sequences obtained included T₁ weighted, short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR), T₂ weighted, diffusion-weighted (DW) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR (dynamic MR) images. In all cases of Kuttner's tumour, the affected submandibular glands were swollen with slightly higher intensity on T₂ weighted, STIR and DW images, but the tumour margin could not be defined. Conversely, the margins of the other tumours could be detected. On T₂ weighted, STIR and DW images, the mean signal intensity ratios and the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for Kuttner's tumours and malignant tumours were significantly lower than those of benign tumours, but there were no significant differences between those of Kuttner's tumours and those of malignant tumours. All benign tumours showed late enhancement, with peak enhancement later than 120 s on dynamic MR images. Kuttner's tumours and malignant tumours showed variable enhancement patterns. In conclusion, signal intensity ratios for T₂ weighted and STIR images, ADC values and patterns of enhancement may help distinguish Kuttner's tumours from benign submandibular gland tumours, but not from malignant tumours. Although the intensities, ADC values and enhanced patterns of Kuttner's tumours were similar to those of malignant tumours, there were some morphological differences.