The efficacy of clinicopathological and imaging features in differentiating benign from malignant parotid micro- and minitumors: a retrospective analysis

Yaqing Mao; Byeongwoo Lee; Zhipeng Sun; Zunan Tang; Leihao Hu; Wenbo Zhang; Yao Yu; Xin Peng

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2024.04.014

The efficacy of clinicopathological and imaging features in differentiating benign from malignant parotid micro- and minitumors: a retrospective analysis

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2024 Apr 25:S2212-4403(24)00190-1. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.04.014. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yaqing Mao¹, Byeongwoo Lee¹, Zhipeng Sun², Zunan Tang¹, Leihao Hu¹, Wenbo Zhang¹, Yao Yu¹, Xin Peng³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China; National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China; National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China; National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China. Electronic address: pxpengxin@263.net.

PMID: 38744548
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.04.014

Abstract

Objective: To compare clinicopathological and imaging features of micro- and minitumors of the parotid gland and provide a reference for preoperative prediction of benign vs malignant status.

Study design: Patients with parotid gland tumors treated surgically were selected. Relevant clinicopathological and imaging data were collected for patients with maximum tumor diameters ≤20 mm on preoperative computed tomography (CT). The lesions were divided into 2 groups, microtumors and minitumors, based on maximum tumor diameter. CT imaging features of benign and malignant tumors were compared through binary logistic regression analysis.

Results: Microtumors and minitumors were categorized by maximum diameters <10 mm (n = 74) and 10-20 mm (n = 611), respectively. Benign and malignant minitumors exhibited significant differences in boundary, tumor density, margin morphology, spiculation margin, and CT values in the plain and arterial phase (P ≤ .027), resembling those found in typical malignant parotid gland tumors. However, no significant differences were observed between benign and malignant microtumors. Logistic regression analysis identified boundary, margin morphology, and spiculation margin as independent predictors of malignancy. The prediction model excelled in identifying benign lesions but was less successful in identifying malignancies.

Conclusion: Parotid gland minitumors had imaging features similar to typical larger malignant tumors. Active exclusion of the malignant risk and early surgical treatment is recommended for these tumors.