THE SEQUENCE OF APPLICATION OF ULTRASOUND, CT AND MRI STUDIES IN SALIVARY GLAND PATHOLOGIES

Abstract

The article presents information about the research work carried out to study diagnostic signs characteristic of salivary gland pathologies using modern radiological diagnostic methods, grouping the results of the examination (ultrasound, CT and MRI) based on differential diagnosis of symptoms related to these diseases and determining the optimal sequence of examination by increasing the accuracy of diagnosis. The study included patients who, during 2016-2018, had recently developed stable edema in the neck and especially localized near large salivary glands, as well as pre-existing salivary gland pathologies (relapses, etc.). 100 outpatient patients were involved, who were divided into 2 main groups (non-neoplastic and neoplastic) and 6 subgroups. The nonneoplastic group was divided into 4 subgroups (n=70) – inflammatory processes with acute and chronic course (n=51), processes with sialolite (stone) in the ducts of the salivary glands (n=8), focal processes of a cystic nature (n=9) and other processes (n=2); the neoplastic group was divided into 2 subgroups (n=30) – benign (n=22) and malignant tumor processes (n=8). The research work used ultrasound, CT and MRI methods, as well as various modes of these methods. The study showed that ultrasound in the pathology of the salivary glands can be useful as a method of routine examination in the early stages, and with dynamic observation in the postoperative period. Computed tomography can be used to detect destructions occurring in nearby bones, as well as intraparenchymal or intratumoral calcifications. On the other hand, MRI is of greater importance in differentiating intraparenchymal edema and morphological changes, determining the facial nerve and its relationship to the tumor, and determining whether the process is benign or malignant.