Ultrasound examination of the salivary glands is the most accessible method of imaging the salivary glands. The salivary glands are responsible for the secretion of saliva that facilitates the consumption of food. Ultrasound examination of the salivary glands can show both many temporary diseases and very dangerous pathological conditions, e.g. salivary gland cancer. Ultrasound examination of the salivary glands requires the availability of high-quality ultrasound equipment, which aims to visualize even small and discreet changes in the structure of the gland. People referred for ultrasound of the salivary glands often require examination of the entire neck area and ultrasound of enlarged lymph nodes.
Make an appointment now - to the doctor performing the ultrasound of salivary glands in our hospital
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Indications for ultrasound examination of the salivary glands
Symptoms that may indicate salivary gland problems include:
swelling of the face, pain, and raised tissue in front of the ears, on the side of the cheeks or under the jaw
pain worsening when talking and eating and moving the jaw,
a feeling of dry mouth
unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Ultrasound of salivary glands - preparation
Ultrasound of the salivary glands does not require any special preparation.
Ultrasound of the salivary glands - what does it look like?
Many people wonder where the salivary glands are located and how the ultrasound examination of the salivary glands works. The salivary glands are paired organs that are arranged symmetrically. During the ultrasound examination of the salivary glands, the doctor places a small ultrasound head on the appropriate place on the face:
Ultrasound of the parotid gland
The parotid glands lie in front of the ear on the posterior-lateral part of the cheeks. To gain convenient access to the salivary glands, the doctor may ask the test person to slightly turn the head to the right or left (depending on the currently examined salivary gland).
USG of the submandibular gland, USG of the sublingual glands
The submandibular glands lie at the bottom of the chin in the space delimited by the mandibular triangle. The sublingual glands are located under the tongue between the suprahyoid muscles. The examined person, lying on his back, tilts his head back to make it easier for the doctor to access the area under the lower jaw.
The doctor compares the size and shape of the salivary glands on both sides, and then determines the echogenicity and the presence of any changes in the salivary glands. The Doppler USG option allows the assessment of parenchymal blood flow and the degree of vascularization of suspected lesions. To assess the patency of the salivary ducts, the doctor may place some pressure around the mouth of the salivary ducts, such as the inside of the cheek.
Ultrasound of the salivary glands - what does it detect?
The most common pathologies concern one of the paired salivary glands - changes are then observed that are absent in the salivary gland on the opposite side. Symmetrical and / or all-glandular lesions are often associated with systemic diseases, metabolic disorders, or autoimmune diseases.
Congenital defects of the salivary glands
Hypoplasia (incomplete education) of the salivary gland,
Extra salivary gland.
Inflammation of the salivary glands
Bacterial salivary gland inflammation - changes predominate in the salivary ducts, sometimes the presence of deposits and calcifications in their lumen is found,
Viral salivary glands - lesions predominate in the parenchyma
Inflammation of the salivary glands as a result of immunological disorders (e.g. in the course of Sjögren's disease, Mikulicz-Radecki's disease) - inflammation occurs during periods of exacerbations and remissions, and the image of salivary glands visible on ultrasound may vary significantly at different stages of the disease, therefore the experience of the doctor performing Ultrasound of the salivary glands.
Sialozy
Sialoses are pathological conditions of the salivary glands whose etiology has not yet been fully elucidated. In the course of sialosis, enlargement of the salivary glands and an increase in the cohesiveness of their flesh are observed. It is proposed that the changes in the salivary glands may be associated with hormonal or metabolic disturbances and disturbances in the functioning of the vegetative system.
Benign tumors of the salivary glands
The benign tumors of the salivary glands include adenomas. These tumors grow slowly and may not show specific symptoms of pressure for a long time.
Malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands
Malignant tumors are much rarer than benign tumors. Malignant neoplasms include adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. During the ultrasound examination of the salivary glands, the doctor may find that the adjacent structures are infiltrated by cancerous masses. Early diagnosis is very important because malignant tumors show a very high growth dynamics and can metastasize quickly. The final diagnosis of the neoplasm is established on the basis of a histopathological examination of a specimen taken during a biopsy of a salivary gland tumor.
Other changes in the salivary glands
Cysts on the salivary glands,
Inflammation of the intra-glandular lymph nodes of the salivary glands,
Lipomas,
Vascular malformations (angiomas).
Post-traumatic conditions of the salivary glands
Trauma to the face in the area of the parotid or submandibular glands may lead to the formation of a hematoma in the parenchyma of the salivary gland or a subcapsular hematoma. A dangerous complication is the transformation of the hematoma into a salivary gland abscess, the treatment of which is much more difficult.
At the Dworska Hospital in Krakow, ultrasound examination of salivary glands is performed with the use of modern devices that enable obtaining high-resolution images. The doctor can magnify the image several times without losing its quality, so he can assess even very small changes visible on the salivary glands.
We also perform ultrasound examinations of salivary glands in children.
Source:
Zajkowski P , Ochal-Choińska A. Standardy badania ślinianek – aktualizacja. Journal of Ultrasonography 2016; 17: 175–190.
Frequently asked questions about ultrasound of the salivary glands:
An indication for ultrasound of the salivary glands is painful swelling of the cheek area in front of the ears or discomfort felt backwards from the chin. The complaints usually worsen when eating and talking. A common symptom indicating pathologies of the salivary glands is also an unpleasant smell from the mouth and a chronic feeling of dry mouth. In the event of the above symptoms, you should see a doctor who will determine whether an ultrasound of the salivary glands and / or an ultrasound of the neck lymph nodes is necessary.
The most frequently diagnosed disease during ultrasound examination is salivary gland inflammation. Other pathologies include: congenital defects (e.g. incomplete development of the salivary gland), changes in the salivary glands associated with systemic and metabolic diseases, and benign and malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands. Ultrasound can also be used to detect the presence of a cyst, abscess or traumatic hematoma of the salivary gland.
The doctor puts a special head on the cheek in front of the ear, which emits ultrasound waves. On the monitor screen, the doctor observes the image of the salivary glands and adjacent structures of the neck obtained thanks to the reflection of ultrasound waves from the tissues. The test is non-invasive and completely safe for the patient. During ultrasound examination, the salivary glands are assessed on both sides of the face.
