The diagnostic value of sialography and scintigraphy in salivary gland diseases.

The diagnostic value of sialographic and scintigraphic investigations was compared in 169 patients. In this group were 75 inflammatory diseases and 49 benign and malignant tumours. Sialograms and scintigrams were examined by different physicians who had no knowledge of the clinical data of the patients. The scintigraphic diagnosis was considered correct if any abnormal finding was noted. The sialographic diagnosis was considered correct if the actual disease was diagnosed. In spite of the less stringent requirements for a correct scintigraphic diagnosis the sialographic technique was found to be superior. Radioactivity uptake curves over the salivary glands did not improve the scintigraphic diagnostic accuracy.