To evaluate the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in salivary gland tumors, thirty-five patients (47 lesions) who underwent MR examinations and were histopathologically diagnosed with salivary gland tumors in Okayama University Hospital, between April 1998 and March 2005, were entered in the present study. The parameters included CI(max300) or CI(max600), which was the contrast index (CI) at maximal contrast enhancement upon 300 s or 600 s, and Tmax, which was the time that corresponded to the CI(max300). Washout ratio (WR(300) or WR(600)) was defined as follows: CI(max300)-CI(300s)/CI(max300) or CI(max600)-CI(600s)/CI(max600)x100 (%), where CI(300) or CI(600) was the CI at 300s or 600s after contrast medium administration. We obtained the following results from the analysis of DCE-MRI parameters; (a) The salivary gland tumors were categorized into three CI curve types according to Tmax and WR300; Pleomorphic adenoma; Tmax > 210 s and WR300 < 10%, Warthin tumor; Tmax < 60 s and WR300 > 40%, and malignant tumor; 60s < Tmax < 210 s and 10% < WR300 < 30%; (b) On the basis of the relationship between Tmax and CImax or WR, all pleomorphic adenomas were successfully differentiated from Warthin tumor lesions. Of the 20 pleomorphic adenomas, 18 (90.0%) were successfully differentiated from malignant tumors. All Warthin tumor lesions were successfully differentiated from pleomorphic adenomas and malignant tumors. Of 12 the malignant tumors, 11 (91.7%) were successfully differentiated from pleomorphic adenomas. All malignant tumors were successfully differentiated from Warthin tumors. Thus, DCE-MRI parameters are useful in diagnosing salivary gland tumors on the basis of the combined assessment of Tmax and CImax or WR.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI for odontogenic tumours. Materials and methods: 51 patients with odontogenic tumours were subjected to preoperative MRI examinations. For tumours with liquid components, i.e. ameloblastomas and keratocystic odontogenic tumours (KCOTs), the signal intensity (SI) uniformity of their cystic components (US) was calculated and then their US values were compared. For tumours with solid components that had been examined using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), their CI max (maximum contrast index), T max (the time when CI max occurred), CI peak (CI max 3 0.90), T peak (the time when CI peak occurred) and CI 300 (i.e. the CI observed at 300 s after contrast medium injection) values were determined from CI curves. We then classified the odontogenic tumours according to their DCE-MRI parameters. Results: Significant differences between the US values of the ameloblastomas and KCOT were observed on T 1 weighted images, T 2 weighted images and short TI inversion recovery images. Depending on their DCE-MRI parameters, we classified the odontogenic tumours into the following five types: Type A, CI peak . 2.0 and T peak , 200 s; Type B, CI peak , 2.0 and T peak , 200 s; Type C, CI 300 . 2.0 and T max , 600 s; Type D, CI 300 . 2.0 and T max . 600 s; Type E, CI 300 , 2.0 and T max . 600 s. Conclusion: Cystic component SI uniformity was found to be useful for differentiating between ameloblastomas and KCOT. However, the DCE-MRI parameters of odontogenic tumours, except for odontogenic fibromas and odontogenic myxomas, contributed little to their differential diagnosis.

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Telephone number: +81-86-235-6705 FAX number: +81-86-235-6709 SUMMARY Typical MR images of ameloblastomas on T2-weighted image (WI) or short inversion time inversion-recovery (STIR) show multiple bright high-signal-intensity loci on a high-signal-intensity background. Unilocular cystic-type ameloblastomas show homogeneously bright high signal intensity on T2WI or STIR as a water-like signal intensity. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish unilocular cystic-type ameloblastoma from other cystic lesions such as keratocystic odontogenic tumors, radicular cysts (residual cysts) and dentigerous cysts only on the basis of MRI signal intensity. In the present study, we evaluated whether contrast-enhanced (CE)-T1WI and dynamic CE-MRI (DCE-MRI) could provide additional information for differential diagnosis in unilocular cystic-type ameloblastoma. Images from 12 cases of suspected unilocular cystic-type ameloblastoma were evaluated in the present study. Of them, 5 had areas suspected of indicating a solid component on T1WI and T2WI (or STIR). Ten had undergone additional CE-T1WI and DCE-MRI. On 5 of 10 cases of CE-T1WI, a tiny enhancement area was detected. On 6 of 10 DCE-images, a time-course enhanced area which was suspected to be a solid component was detected. CE-T1WI was helpful in the diagnosis of ameloblastoma because the tiny enhanced areas were taken to indicate possible solid components. Moreover, the rim-enhancement area on CE-T1WI could be divided into small regions of interest, and some of these showed slightly increased enhancement on DCE-MRI, which was taken to indicate a solid component and/or intramural nodule with focal invasion of ameloblastoma tissue. DCE-MRIs of the 4 remaining cases, which provided no clues to the diagnosis of ameloblastoma in the manner of the above descriptions, showed thicker rim enhancement than odontogenic cysts. Thus, CE-T1WI and DCE-MRI were helpful in the differential diagnosis of unilocular cystic-type ameloblastomas with homogeneously bright high signal intensity on T2WI or STIR.

We evaluated the relationship between histopathological prognostic factors, tumor proliferation microvessel density (MVD), and enhancement parameters in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Twenty-eight T2 and T3 patients with primary oral SCC underwent DCE-MRI using three-dimensional fast imaging with a steady-state precession sequence. Tumor cell proliferation and MVD of all surgical specimens were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining with CD34 and the antibody for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Regression analysis was used to statistically analyze the relationship between the PCNA labeling index or MVD and each of three DCE-MRI parameters: maximum CI (CI-max), maximum CI gain (CI-gain) and the CI-gain / CI-max ratio). The PCNA labeling index and MVD showed significant correlations with the CI-gain/CI-max ratio (P=0.0012, r=0.581 and P=0.00141, r=0.574, respectively). The assessment of DCE-MRI parameters may prove to be a valuable non-invasive method for assessing tumor cell proliferation and MVD of patients with oral cancer.