MR imaging of palatine gland lesion-associated IgG4-related disease: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to present the novel MRI findings of palatine gland lesion-associated IgG4-related disease (PGL-IgG4-RD) and to compare the imaging features with those in normal individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the MRI scans of 12 patients with PGL-IgG4-RD and 12 control individuals. We measured the thickness of the palatal regions and calculated the T2-weighted signal intensity ratio of palatal regions to cerebral white matter (HWR) and compared them between the PGL-IgG4-RD and control groups.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, the HWR of the palatal regions on T2-weighted imaging was smaller in the PGL-IgG4-RD group than in the control group (average = 1.2 vs. 1.9, p < 0.001). The palate thickness in patients with PGL-IgG4-RD was significantly greater than that in controls (average = 12 vs 6 mm, p < 0.001). The cut-off value of the between-group palate thickness on coronal MRI was 8 mm.

CONCLUSION

The thickening of the palatal regions seen with low signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging may be a characteristic imaging feature of PGL-IgG4-RD. Such findings will be useful for the timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment planning of IgG4-RDHP.