3 major pairs of exocrine salivary glands secrete saliva into mouth through ducts
Parotid glands
Anterior and inferior to ears
Function during meals or with thought/smell of food
Secrete saliva into mouth through parotid/Stensen duct
Submandibular glands
Under mandible in floor of mouth
Continuously produce saliva
Secrete saliva into mouth through submandibular/Wharton/submaxillary duct
Sublingual glands
In floor of mouth, lateral to tongue
Continuously produce saliva
Secrete saliva through ducts of Rivinus
Dysfunction can occur due to
Sjögren syndrome (autoimmune disease)
Iatrogenic
External beam radiation therapy
Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy
Postsurgical
Sialadenitis (infection)
Sialolithiasis (stones)
Benign and malignant neoplasms
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Kaldeway HP et al: Validation of quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy in relation to the American-European concensus criteria for Sjögren's syndrome. Nucl Med Commun. 40(4):343-8, 2019
Afzelius P et al: Imaging of the major salivary glands. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 36(1):1-10, 2016
MacDonald A et al: Infrequently performed studies in nuclear medicine: part 2. J Nucl Med Technol. 37(1):1-13, 2009
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TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
3 major pairs of exocrine salivary glands secrete saliva into mouth through ducts
Parotid glands
Anterior and inferior to ears
Function during meals or with thought/smell of food
Secrete saliva into mouth through parotid/Stensen duct
Submandibular glands
Under mandible in floor of mouth
Continuously produce saliva
Secrete saliva into mouth through submandibular/Wharton/submaxillary duct
Sublingual glands
In floor of mouth, lateral to tongue
Continuously produce saliva
Secrete saliva through ducts of Rivinus
Dysfunction can occur due to
Sjögren syndrome (autoimmune disease)
Iatrogenic
External beam radiation therapy
Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy
Postsurgical
Sialadenitis (infection)
Sialolithiasis (stones)
Benign and malignant neoplasms
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Kaldeway HP et al: Validation of quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy in relation to the American-European concensus criteria for Sjögren's syndrome. Nucl Med Commun. 40(4):343-8, 2019
Afzelius P et al: Imaging of the major salivary glands. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 36(1):1-10, 2016
MacDonald A et al: Infrequently performed studies in nuclear medicine: part 2. J Nucl Med Technol. 37(1):1-13, 2009
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