Application of 3D heavily T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR sialography in salivary gland diseases

Objective To analyze the changes of the disorder of salivary gland ducts in common salivary gland diseases with MR sialography,and evaluate the diagnostic value of MR sialography.Methods 3D heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo sequence MR sialography was performed in 30 patients with different salivary gland diseases.All images were observed and summarized.Results In 3 cases with acute submaxillaritis,the main duct became slightly wider.In patients with chronic sialadenitis,the dilatation of main ducts to different degrees could be seen,so did the dilated terminal ducts and sausagelike change of main ducts.In patients with sialolithiasis,filling defects were showed in salivary ducts that corresponded to sialoliths,customarily with dilatation of the proximal ducts.In patients with Sjo gren syndrome,a punctate,globular,cavitary,or destructive appearance was well seen within the parotid glands.In 6 cases with benign tumor,the ducts were displaced.The duct in one patient with parotid gland cancer showed displacement and destruction.Conclusion 3D MR sialography is noninvasive and allows delineation of both normal and abnormal parotid and submandibular gland duct systems.MR sialography combined with conventional MR imaging has the potential to replace conventional sialography.