ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the value of normalized iodine concentration (NIC), spectral attenuation curve slope (SACS), area under curve (AUC), and iodine concentration difference (ICD) generated from spectral CT in the assessment of parotid gland tumors.MethodsNinety-two patients with pathologically confirmed parotid gland tumors underwent arterial phase- and venous phase-enhanced CT in spectral CT. The patients were divided into the pleomorphic adenoma group (group A), Warthin tumor group (group B), basal cell tumor group (group C), and malignant tumor group (group D). The SACS, AUC, NIC, ICD were measured and analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA, and statistical significance was set atPResultsSACSAP, AUCAP, and NICAPin group A were lower than those in other groups; SACSVPand AUCVPin group C were higher than those in other groups; NICAPand NICVPin group D were higher than those in other groups; and ICD in group B was a positive number. The difference in SACSAPand AUCAPin groups B and C, SACSVPand AUCVPin groups C and D, and ICD in groups A and C were not statistically significant. By contrast, the difference between the other groups was statistically significant (PAPbetween groups A and B and groups C and D and the difference in NICVPbetween groups A and C, groups A and D, and groups B and C were statistically significant (P=0.005, 0.025, 0.002, 0.038, and 0.049, respectively).ConclusionMulti-quantitative parameters from spectral CT might be helpful in differentiating various types of parotid gland tumors.
