MR findings of nine cases of palatal tumor.

PURPOSE: To assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of pathologically confirmed palatal tumors.

METHODS

Nine cases of palatal tumor were studied. Clinical data, MRI findings, and pathological diagnoses were evaluated.

RESULTS

Five cases were tumors of the hard palate and four of the soft palate. Signal intensity on T1-weighted images varied, and hyperintensity was observed on T2-weighted images. Adenoid cystic carcinoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma showed homogenous signal intensity. Other tumors showed heterogeneous signal intensities. On dynamic contrast analysis, malignant pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and peripheral T cell lymphoma showed early enhancement. On post-contrast T1-weighted images, hard palate pleomorphic adenoma, malignant pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and peripheral T cell lymphoma showed strong enhancement. Although the borders of the tumors were classified as clear in 6 cases treated surgically, macroscopic and microscopic borders of the tumors were unclear. Adenoid cystic carcinoma and hard palate diffuse large B cell lymphoma invaded the maxillary bone.

CONCLUSION

Magnetic resonance findings of palatal tumor varied in different histologies. Even with a small palpable portion, malignant tumors could directly infiltrate surrounding structures, which demonstrated well on MRI.