CT sialography and conventional sialography in the investigation of parotid masses

Abstract

In a 3-year period computed tomography (CT), both plain and in combination with sialography, and conventional sialography were used in 59 patients who had or were suspected of having salivary gland tumors, with special regard to attenuation in different tumors and the tumor borders. The diagnostic information obtained with CT sialography and conventional sialography was evaluated. The most valuable advantage of parotid CT sialography is the possibility of demonstrating the tumor and its actual size and relationship to the surrounding structures. The differentiation between benign and malignant tumors must be based mainly on clinical investigation and fine-needle biopsy. Conventional sialography may be an important complement to CT sialography because of its ability to illustrate the morphology of the finest ducts.