Ultrasonography characteristics of cystic components in primary salivary gland tumors

Objectives: The present study aimed to characterize the ultrasonography (US) features of cystic components in salivary gland tumors (SGTs). Material: and methods A total of 207 patients (218 lesions) with pathologically confirmed primary SGTs were analyzed. Preoperative US revealed the presence of cystic components in lesions. Lesion size, shape, margin, and US findings of the cystic components, including number, distribution, margin, occupying rate, and internal characteristics, were evaluated. Results: Similarities were observed between the US performance of benign SGTs (B-SGTs) and malignant SGTs (M-SGTs) with cystic components. Differences in sex and age of patients, number, distribution, and internal characteristics of cystic components were statistically significant. For SGTs with cystic components, the proportions of M-SGTs to ill-defined margins (P = 0.002), eccentric distribution (P = 0.019), and none of the internal characteristics (P = 0.019) were significantly higher than those of B-SGTs. For every one-year increase in age, the presence of B-SGTs increased by 4.9% (95% confidence interval for the odds ratio, 1.020-1.078). The risk of ill-defined margins for the presence of M-SGTs was 10.030 times higher than that for well-defined margins (95% confidence interval for odds ratio, 3.377-29.787). Cystic component features needed to be combined with lesion indicators (border and shape) to improve diagnostic sensitivity. Conclusions: US features of the B-SGTs and M-SGTs were significantly different. Cystic component is of interest in the US-related differential diagnosis of B-SGT and M-SGT. Clinical Relevance Cystic components are potentially valuable in the differential diagnosis of B-SGTs and M-SGTs on US.