Objectives: This prospective study was designed to evaluate the role of imaging studies in differential
diagnosis of parotid-tail mass lesions.
Patients & Methods: The study was designed to evaluate the images of patients attending with
masses in the area of parotid tail in patients presented with mass at angle of the mandible through
the period of 4 years. Imaging studies were performed by using ultrasound, CT and/or MR imaging,
colored Doppler was used to evaluate lesions' vascularity. All patients underwent surgical
exploration or biopsy and diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. Obtained
radiological data were compared to evaluate the aid provided by imaging studies for differential
diagnosis of these cases.
Results: The study included 29 patients; 19 males (65.5%) and 20 females (34.5%). There were 16
patients (55.2%) younger than 21 years (Child-adulthood group) with mean age ofl2.84.8 years and
13 adult patients (44.8%) with mean age of 50.2I0 years (Adult group). In younger patients, there
was higher frequency of parotid-tail developmental lesions (n=7; 43.8%), infectious lesions either
bacterial or viral (n=8; 50%) and benign lesions were detected in one patient (6.2%), while in older
patients benign lesions were more prevalent and detected in 12 patients (92.3%) and metastatic
lesions were detected in only one patient (7.7%). Imaging studies identified developmental lesions in 7
patients of which 3 were branchial cyst, 2 hemangioma and 2 lymphangiomas. Parotid pleomorphic
adenoma was detected in 12 adult patients (41.4%), and 3 cases (10.3%) showed typical appearance of
Warthin tumor. One patient presented by a palpable a mass in the "left parotid tail" with a picture
indicated a metastatic node from a clinically occultprimarysquamous cell carcinoma.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that CT and MR imaging studies are accurate modalities for
diagnosis of parotid tail swelling and aid to modify the assigned therapeutic modalities |
