Submandibular sialolithiasis with CT and SPECT/CT: CT values, standardized uptake values, and salivary gland excretion in the parotid and submandibular glands.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, SPECT/CT has been widely accepted as a valuable diagnostic tool in dentistry. The aim of this study was to investigate submandibular sialolithiasis with CT and SPECT/CT, especially CT values, standardized uptake values (SUVs), and salivary gland excretion in the parotid and submandibular glands.

METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 13 patients with submandibular sialolithiasis who underwent CT and salivary gland SPECT/CT. The CT values and the SUVs of parotid and submandibular glands were obtained using a workstation and software. The salivary gland excretion in the parotid and submandibular glands was defined as ratio of pre- to post-stimulation on SUVs. A P-value lower than .05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS: In the submandibular glands with sialoliths, the average CT values were significantly correlated with the maximum SUVs at ratio of pre-stimulation (r = 0.558, P<.05). The maximum SUVs at ratio of pre- to post-stimulation in the submandibular glands with and without sialoliths were 1.5 ± 1.1 and 2.1 ± 0.7, respectively (P = .026).

CONCLUSION: The salivary gland SPECT/CT SUVs can be useful in clinical practice for the quantitative management of parotid and submandibular glands in patients with submandibular sialolithiasis.