Correlations between Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging and Histopathological Results in Salivary Gland Lesions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to search for correlations between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging and histopathological results in salivary gland lesions and to determine the accuracy of CEUS in the preoperative differentiation of salivary gland tumours according to postoperative histopathological results. The study included 54 consecutive patients with 63 salivary gland lesions who underwent CEUS examination prior to surgical treatment at the Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Łódź (Poland) in 2019–2022. The accuracy of CEUS in differential diagnostics of salivary gland lesions was later verified against final histological diagnosis. Among 63 salivary gland lesions, 26 were categorized as malignant or with malignant potential, and 37 were benign. There was a correlation between professional photographs of CEUS imaging and microscope slides containing postoperative specimens. A strong heterogeneous enhancement was observed mainly in benign lesions, with while weak heterogeneity mostly among the malignant or with malignant potential lesions. A pattern of contrast enhancement in specific structures reflected histopathological images. These results suggest that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is a promising tool for the preoperative diagnostics of salivary gland lesions.