Digital subtraction sialography, conventional sialography, high-resolution ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of salivary gland diseases.

Forty-one patients with salivary gland disorders have been evaluated by digital subtraction sialography, conventional sialography, high-resolution ultrasonography and computed tomography, and the results compared with clinical, surgical and pathomorphological data. In the case of salivary gland masses, the sensitivity of ultrasonography, CT and digital subtraction sialography was 100%, 82% and 71%, respectively, while in the case of sialadenitis, the respective figures were 54%, 69% and 85%. The image quality of digital subtraction sialography was superior to that of conventional sialography in 80%, equal in 16%, and inferior in 3% of the examinations. We conclude that in all cases of salivary gland diseases ultrasound should be the first imaging procedure. If a tumour is not confirmed, digital subtraction sialography should be employed to visualise inflammatory changes, while in most cases of salivary gland masses no further imaging will be necessary.