Salivary Gland Imaging

Salivary glands are the first organs of digestion secreting their digestive juices into the oral cavity. Parotid submandibular and sublingual glands are the major paired salivary glands of the body acting on the first step of the digestion process. The imaging is directed to the major salivary glands. The imaging modalities include both conventional as well as advanced imaging modalities. The conventional modalities include plain radiography and sialography whereas ultrasound contrast enhanced CT MRI and MR sialography constitutes the modern imaging modalities . Conventional plain film Radiography and Sialography were widely used formerly but are seldom used nowadays as they are of limited value. Plain film radiography is the most conventional and simplest mode of imaging. They can be used to detect the mineralized salivary calculi with a single or two radiographs with altered angulations to evade super imposition . The availability of advanced imaging modalities has limited its use in this era.