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.