Does Virtual Touch IQ elastography help to improve the preoperative diagnosis of parotid tumors: A prospective trial
Issue title: Selected papers of the 36th Conference of the German Society for Clinical Microcirculation and Hemorheology, 5–8. June, 2017, Greifswald, Germany
Guest editors: M. Jünger, A. Krüger-Genge and F. Jung
Affiliations: [a] Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| [b] Institute of Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Pamela Zengel, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany. Tel.: +49 89 4400 0; Fax: +49 89 4400 7 6869; E-mail: pamela.zengel@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:It is difficult to assess tumors of the parotid gland preoperatively. However, it is essential for the surgeon to know which kind of tumor is present. Ultrasound is the method of choice, but there is still no reliable differential diagnostic tool for determining whether a tumor is malignant or benign. OBJECTIVE:The aim of our study was to examine the value of Virtual Touch imaging quantification (VTIQ) elastograpy in distinguishing between malignant and benign tumors as well as in identifying the most common benign tumor types. METHODS:The parenchyma of 100 parotid glands and 12 lymph nodes of healthy volunteers and 50 tumors of the parotid gland were analyzed via ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasound, and VTIQ, and the results were then compared with histopathology. RESULTS:In comparison with benign tumors, in malignant tumors the tumor border was diffuse, the perfusion higher, and the VTIQ quality much lower. Share wave velocity of the user-defined region of interest was more frequently higher than 6.8 m/s in malignant tumors in comparison to benign tumors. CONCLUSIONS:VTIQ in combination with ultrasound examination provides additional information for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors and shows promise for integration into preexisting ultrasound protocols.
