[en] To examine specific findings of Warthin's tumor of the parotid gland with use of 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems, with pathologic correlation. MR imaging studies of six patients with 10 Warthin's tumors were reviewed retrospectively. The results were compared with the pathologic findings and MR imaging findings of 31 other diseases of the parotid gland. T1-weighted images showed low-intensity masses with sharp margins in all cases, sometimes with high-intensity areas (five tumors). These high-intensity areas correlated with cysts found on pathologic study to contain cholesterol. Basically, all of the tumors were revealed as low-intensity masses on T2-weighted images. Geographic high-intensity areas, which corresponded with cysts and areas of predominant lymphoid proliferation, were also demonstrated in six tumors. The most important cause of low intensity on T2-weighted images was considered to be packed mitochondria containing iron-sulfur enzymes. In contrast, all 29 parotid lesions, except for chronic inflammation and high-grade malignancy, had low T1-weighted and high T2-weighted signal intensities. MR imaging by high-Tesla systems could show characteristic findings of bilaterality and/or multiplicity, high-intensity areas on T1-weighted images and low-intensity tumors on T2-weighted images in the diagnosis of Warthin's tumor