[Noncontrast computed tomography in the diagnosis of tumors of the major salivary glands].

Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the major salivary glands was made in 127 patients, which revealed 95 space-occupying lesions (88 intraglandular and 7 extraglandular ones). Pleomorphic tumors of the parotid glands are solitary, round, high-density (29.6 +/- 4.2 HU) masses with well-defined, smooth margins. Salivary cysts were characterized by the presence of a dense capsule; the density of cyst contents was 8.0 +/- 2.0 HU. Salivary lipomas had a characteristic tomographic pattern due to the presence of adipose tissue; the lipoma density was -108.3 +/- 7.8 HU. Malignant parotid tumors were characterized by the presence of higher-density masses with irregular shapes and ill-defined, indistinct margins. Benign submandibular gland tumors had no well-defined margins that separated the tumor from the gland; the density of a tumor matched that of the parenchyma; the mean tumor size was 3.6 +/- 1.3 cm; there was an increase in the sizes of the gland as compared to those of the contralateral gland, as well as a displacement of the adjacent soft tissues. Malignant submandibular gland neoplasms tumors were characterized by the presence of inhomogenous lower-density masses with irregular shapes. Enlarged paraglandular lymph nodes were observed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of native CT in diagnosing space-occupying lesions of the salivary glands were 97.6, 96.4, and 97.6%, respectively.