Salivary gland scintigraphy--a suitable substitute for sialography?

By comparing 27 patients who had both scintigraphy and sialography in the assessment of salivary gland disease, scintigraphy has been shown to correlate well with abnormal sialograms. It is suggested that scintigraphy could become the initial screening procedure in the assessment of salivary gland disease. A normal scintiscan is unlikely to miss significant pathology (as demonstrated by sialography), but sialography must always be performed if there is a suspicion of duct obstruction on scintigraphy. Patients suspected of focal salivary gland pathology such as tumour have not been investigated. The series documents the findings in patients who presented with facial pain, swelling or xerostomia suggesting sialadenitis, duct occlusion or Sjögren's syndrome.