Oral Radiology | 2019
Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography for evaluation of salivary gland dysfunction: preliminary study on diagnostic ability of maximum standardized uptake value
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate of salivary gland dysfunction with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), especially the relationship between maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max ) of salivary glands and their dysfunction. Methods Five patients (2 submandibular sialolithiasis, 2 Sjögren s syndrome, and 1 parotitis) who underwent SPECT/CT were included in this study. The salivary gland excretion function was defined as A (pre-stimulatory 20\xa0min after injection of Tc-99m pertechnetate)/B (post-stimulatory 40\xa0min after injection of Tc-99m pertechnetate) using SUV max of parotid and submandibular glands. Results SUV max before stimulation of the submandibular gland with sialoliths in a patient was lower than that in the opposite submandibular gland without sialoliths (5.81 vs 51.37). Furthermore, the A/B using SUV max in the other patient of submandibular glands with sialoliths was lower than that in the opposite submandibular glands without sialoliths (0.70 vs 1.85). The A/B using SUV max of right and left parotid gland in a patient with Sjögren s syndrome was 1.06 and 0.74, respectively. Furthermore, the A/B using SUV max of right and left parotid glands in the other patient with Sjögren s syndrome was 3.20 and 4.32, respectively. The A/B using SUV max of right and left parotid glands in a patient with left parotitis was 2.26 and 1.58, respectively. Conclusion The results of the present study indicate that SUV max using SPECT/CT seems a useful tool for evaluation of the salivary gland dysfunction.