[Sonoelastography, B-mode sonography, and color Doppler sonography findings of pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors of parotid gland].

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the sonoelastography (SE), B-mode sonography, and color Doppler sonography findings of the pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors of the parotid gland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 84 parotid masses (23 pleomorphic adenomas, 25 Warthin tumors) in 72 patients (37 males, 35 females; mean age 59 years; range 30 to 79 years) were retrospectively analyzed. For each lesion, B-mode sonography, color Doppler sonography, and SE images were evaluated. Vascularity and elasticity scores of the tumors during color Doppler sonography and SE examinations were calculated by 4-scoring method. RESULTS: Lobulated contour and cystic areas were more common in the pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors during the B-mode sonography examination (p<0.05). Peripheral vascularity was common in more than half of the pleomorphic adenoma patients, whereas central or mixed vascularity was seen in a large group of the Warthin tumor patients (p<0.05). The mean scores on color Doppler sonography examination were 1.13+/-0.81 for pleomorphic adenomas and 1.96+/-0.97 for Warthin tumors (p<0.05). The mean scores on SE examination were 2.69+/-0.70 for pleomorphic adenomas and 1.83+/-0.63 for Warthin tumors (p<0.05). Score 1 on SE examination was found in three of five Warthin tumor patients with peripheral vascularity on color Doppler sonography. CONCLUSION: B-mode, color Doppler and elastography examinations by sonography provide some helpful findings in the differentiation of pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors.