Ultrasound of the salivary glands in children has a similar application as in adults. The examination allows to detect inflammation of the salivary glands and to find local focal changes: cysts, tumors or hemangiomas. Ultrasound of the salivary glands is the basic method of imaging the salivary glands in children. The test is non-invasive, painless and safe for the baby. In case of disturbing symptoms of the salivary glands, it is recommended to contact a doctor who will conduct a detailed interview and perform an ultrasound examination.
When is ultrasound of salivary glands performed in children?
Older children are usually able to pinpoint the location of the pain. In the case of pathologies involving the salivary glands, the pain is localized at the neck, on the side of the cheeks (parotid glands), under the chin (submandibular glands) or at the bottom of the mouth (sublingual glands). Children may also complain of dry mouth and need to drink water more often.
Younger children who are not able to identify their symptoms have general anxiety and irritability, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face or enlarged neck circumference. It is worth noting that a child's enlarged salivary glands can be confused with enlarged neck lymph nodes in the course of many infectious or cancerous diseases. In addition, both states can occur simultaneously.
Infection with the mumps virus, apart from systemic symptoms (fever, myalgia, malaise), causes acute salivary gland inflammation in children (most often parotid). The mumps virus can lead to many serious complications, such as meningitis, thyroiditis, and inflammation of the ovaries in girls or epididymitis in boys.
Symptoms similar to infection with mumps virus can also be caused by infectious mononucleosis. This disease is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is transmitted through saliva. Infectious mononucleosis is manifested by enlargement of the lymph nodes, pharyngitis and enlargement of the spleen.
What can an ultrasound scan of a baby's salivary glands detect?
Ultrasound examination allows to detect inflammation of the salivary glands in children (regardless of the cause). In addition, it enables the detection of other changes: cysts, hemangiomas and salivary gland tumors. Malignant tumors of the salivary glands are much less common in children compared to adults. However, the dynamics of tumor growth and the rate of metastasis is higher in children. Correct diagnosis at an early stage of the disease increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
What does an ultrasound of a baby's salivary glands look like?
Ultrasound examination of the salivary glands does not require any special preparation. During the examination, the child is lying on his back. The doctor moves an ultrasound head moistened with the gel over the examined area of the face and neck. Symmetrically lying salivary glands are always assessed on both sides. During the examination, the doctor may ask the child to tilt his head slightly back or to turn his head to the side - it will facilitate access to the examined salivary gland. The tissue image is monitored on an ongoing basis on the ultrasound monitor.
At the Dworska Hospital in Krakow, ultrasound examinations of children's salivary glands are performed using modern General Electric® Voluson® series devices. These devices are fully adapted to pediatric research.
In the field of ultrasound examinations in children, we also offer:
Abdominal ultrasound,
Ultrasound of hip joints,
Ultrasound of lymph nodes,
Thyroid ultrasound,
Testicular ultrasound.
Frequently asked questions about ultrasound of the baby's salivary glands:
A typical symptom of salivary gland inflammation is facial swelling and pain in the area where the salivary gland is located:
on the side of the cheeks in front of the ears (parotitis)
under the mandible (submandibular salivary gland inflammation),
on the floor of the mouth (sublingual salivary gland inflammation).
Your baby may have trouble chewing and swallowing food. In order to confirm the diagnosis, an ultrasound examination of the salivary glands is performed. It is a form of diagnostic imaging that is completely safe for a child.
Ultrasound of a child's salivary glands does not require any special preparation. If you have other test results (laboratory blood or urine tests, or other imaging tests of the neck area), bring them to your appointment.
