Parotid tumors: MR imaging with pathological correlation.

Abstract

Most parotid tumors grow slowly, whether benign or malignant; thus, it is difficult to predict the malignant or benign nature of a tumor clinically. Magnetic resonance imaging may have a place in the diagnostic work-up of parotid tumors. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the MR imaging findings of parotid tumors and to correlate them to pathologic findings. The MR imaging may be helpful in differentiation of benign and malignant tumors of the parotid gland, and can provide important clues in the diagnosis of their histologies.