Clinical usefulness of salivary gland scanning

Abstract

Radionuclide scanning of the salivary glands with 99mTc-pertechnetate has proved to be a useful procedure in the evaluation of certain morphologic and functional diseases of these organs. This test cannot detect mass lesions that are not evident clinically, but is helpful in some patients in defining the nature of these lesions and their relationship to normal anatomic structures. Warthin's tumors appear “hot” relative to the surrounding tissues, whereas metastatic tumors, cysts, and abscesses appear “cold.” Primary malignancies are also usually cold, but the mixed tumor has a highly variable appearance. Serial salivary scanning is a sensitive procedure with which to monitor the natural progression of inflammatory diseases of these organs, as well as their response to antibiotic or chemotherapy. The glands are generally hyperactive in acute inflammations, but show decreased concentration of pertechnetate in chronic inflammations such as Sjbgren's syndrome.