This study aims to develop a machine learning diagnostic model for parotid gland tumors based on preoperative contrast-enhanced CT imaging features to assist in clinical decision-making.

Clinical data and contrast-enhanced CT images of 144 patients with parotid gland tumors from the Peking University School of Stomatology Hospital, collected from January 2019 to December 2022, were gathered. The 3D slicer software was utilized to accurately annotate the tumor regions, followed by exploring the correlation between multiple preoperative contrast-enhanced CT imaging features and the benign or malignant nature of the tumor, as well as the type of benign tumor. A prediction model was constructed using the k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm.

Through feature selection, four key features—morphology, adjacent structure invasion, boundary, and suspicious cervical lymph node metastasis—were identified as crucial in preoperative discrimination between benign and malignant tumors. The KNN prediction model achieved an accuracy rate of 94.44 %. Additionally, six features including arterial phase CT value, age, delayed phase CT value, pre-contrast CT value, venous phase CT value, and gender, were also significant in the classification of benign tumors, with a KNN prediction model accuracy of 95.24 %.

The machine learning model based on preoperative contrast-enhanced CT imaging features can effectively discriminate between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors and classify benign tumors, providing valuable reference information for clinicians.