MRI findings of mucoepidermois carcinoma of the parotid gland: correlation with pathological features

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate the MRI appearance and pathological findings in each grade of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the parotid gland. METHODS: We reviewed surgically proven MECs of parotid glands in 20 patients. Pathologically, 5 tumours were high-grade, 3 were intermediate and 12 were low-grade. MR images were evaluated with emphasis on signal intensities on T(2) weighted images, margin characteristics and lymph node metastasis, correlating these with pathological features. RESULTS: Among the high-grade MECs, four out of five tumours showed inhomogeneous low to intermediate signal intensity on T(2) weighted images, reflecting high cellularity. All tumours had an ill-defined margin, reflecting invasive tumour growth. Among the intermediate-grade MECs, all three tumours showed intermediate signal intensity on T(2) weighted images and two tumours had an ill-defined margin. Among the low-grade MECs, 11 of the 12 tumours had a hyperintense area on T(2) weighted images because of the existence of abundant mucin secreting cells. Seven tumours had an ill-defined margin, reflecting peritumoural inflammatory changes rather than invasive tumour growth. Lymph node metastasis was seen in three high-grade MECs. CONCLUSION: MECs of the parotid gland show variable MRI findings reflecting their histological nature, which seems to have certain tendencies depending on the tumour grade.