Sialography with continuous measurement of pressure outside and inside the gland.

In almost any method of sialography the results depend on a sign given by the patient. In order to eliminate this very uncertain factor or to limit its effect, a procedure was established to determine the pressure in the gland after the injection of contrast medium, as well as the injection pressure during injection. The difference between injection pressure and gland pressure was minimized through the use of special cannulas. A special syringe was used. Pressure was recorded by a membrane transducer connected to electronic equipment. It appears that the pressures are below or about the same as the diastolic blood pressure. Pressure values do not correlate with the volumes injected. The standard deviation of the pressure is too large to make entirely superfluous the sign given by the patient; nevertheless, the method improves the quality and reliability of sialogram readings and extends the field of application to patients unable to give reliable subjective information.