PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Shammas, Amer
AU  - Ash, Judith
AU  - Charron, Martin
TI  - Salivary gland scintigraphy in children with post duct ligation for sialorrhea
DP  - 2009 May 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 1374--1374
VI  - 50
IP  - supplement 2
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/50/supplement_2/1374.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/50/supplement_2/1374.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2009 May 01; 50
AB  - 1374 Objectives Sialorrhea is a major cause of morbidity in children with cerebral palsy or neurodegenerative disorders potentially causing recurrent pneumonia secondary to salivary aspiration. Ligation of the submandibular and parotid ducts is used to produce functional atrophy of the salivary glands with significantly decreased salivation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of salivary gland scintigraphy in detecting residual salivary gland function in children with persistent drooling after duct ligation. Methods 20 salivary gland scans were reviewed retrospectively in 19 children with persistent drooling after four-duct ligation or parotid gland duct ligation with submandibular gland duct relocation. A dynamic study was acquired for 20 minutes followed by static images obtained in the LAO, RAO and anterior projections. Activity in the parotid and submandibular glands was interpreted as no function when there was no activity, residual but decreased function when the uptake was significantly less than thyroid uptake, or normal function when there was marked uptake similar to thyroid uptake. Results All patients had normal or residual function in at least one major salivary gland. 13 patients had four-duct ligation and 6 patients had parotid gland duct ligation. Of 38 total parotid glands 18 had normal function, 17 residual function and 3 no function. Of 26 total submandibular glands with ligation 8 had normal function, 13 residual function and 5 no function. In one patient, activity was seen in the lungs and major bronchi suggestive of salivary aspiration. Conclusions Salivary gland scintigraphy can be used to assess the major salivary gland function in children with persistent sialorrhea after duct ligation surgery.