Comparison on clinical and CT features of adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma in central airway / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare CT features and clinical manifestations of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) in the central airway. Methods: A total of 76 patients with central airway salivary gland tumor proved by surgery or biopsy (45 patients with ACC and 31 patients with MEC) were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent chest CT, among them 38 patients with ACC and 29 patients with MEC underwent contrast enhanced CT. CT features of the tumor, including growth location, maximum diameter, growth pattern, enhancement, obstructive pneumonia, atelectasis, lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion were evaluated. Results: Patients with MEC were younger than those with ACC (P0.05). Compared with MEC, ACC was more likely to occur in trachea, behaved as infiltrative growth, less enhancement and lower incidence of obstructive inflammation(all P0.05). Conclusion: The age of onset of central airway salivary gland tumor is younger. ACC is more likely to occur in the trachea, most of them show invasive growth, while enhancement CT shows mild to moderate enhancement. MEC is more likely to occur in lobar and segmental bronchi, most of them show expansive growth and significantly enhancement on CT. The incidence of obstructive inflammation is higher in MEC patients than in ACC patients.