الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 145 |  |  |
| | | from | 145 | | |
Abstract
Parotid tumor pathology is complex, involving a wide variety of benign and malignant lesions that are hard to distinguish clinically. Indications for surgery depend on lesion histology, size and location. Imaging has an important role in making a diagnosis and in planning further management, operative or otherwise. Some diseases may overlap and the optimal methods of imaging may change depending on the presentation. Plain radiography and sialography, Ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear scintigraphy all have a role. Plain film evaluation of the parotid glands is of limited clinical value. Radiographs can show sialolithiasis or involvement of the adjacent mandible by tumour. MR sialography has been suggested as an alternative technique for the imaging of ductal salivary gland diseases. Ultrasound is usually the first choice both for assessing superficial parotid gland lesions and to guide tissue biopsy examination for histological or cytological analysis. It is cheap, widely available, and safe. The limitations of US include its inability to evaluate deep parotid masses lesions obscured by the mandible and it has a limited capability in detection of
tumor extension if compared with CT and MRI. Assesment with color Doppler or power Doppler US does not allow reliable differentiation between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors.