Pleomorphic adenoma MRI


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun M.D., PhD.

Overview
Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign neoplastic tumour of the salivary glands. It is the most common type of salivary gland tumour and the most common tumour of the parotid gland. It derives its name from the architectural pleomorphism (variable appearance) seen by light microscopy. It is also known as "Mixed tumor, salivary gland type", which describes its pleomorphic appearance as opposed to its dual origin from epithelial and myoepithelial elements. . MRI provides superior soft tissue delineation such as perineural invasion when compared to CT only.

MRI

 * On MRI, pleomorphic adenomas are usually well-circumscribed, homogeneous masses with low intensity on T1-weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images. They commonly have a rim of decreased signal intensity on T2-weighted images. After gadolinium enhancement, the tumors are homogeneously enhancing unless they are large (unlike CT, MRI has no role in delayed imaging).

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