Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MRI seems to be a valuable tool for differentiating benign from malignant primary parotid gland tumors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim was to compare different field strengths monitoring physiologic changes due to oral stimulation of parotid glands by using diffusion-weighted (DW) echo-planar imaging (EPI).

DW-EPI seems to display functional changes of the parotid gland affected by Sjögren's disease. Combined with MR sialography, it might be a useful tool for discriminating healthy from affected glands and seems to allow differentiation between the early and advanced disease.

Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging allows non-invasive quantification of functional changes in the parotid glands.