Unilateral gallium-67 uptake in primary tuberculosis of the major salivary glands.
Unilateral radionuclide accumulation in salivary glands is an uncommon finding on gallium scintigraphy. The differential diagnosis includes malignant tumors and inflammatory processes of these organs. Two cases of unilateral gallium uptake of the parotid and submandibular gland respectively, verified as solitary tuberculosis, are presented, together with the correlative findings of Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy, sialography, and sonography. None of these imaging modalities is specific enough to provide pathognomonic signs for tuberculosis. When assessing unilateral gallium uptake of the salivary glands, one should be aware of the possibility of tuberculosis.
Bihl
H
H
Department of Radiology, University of Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Maier
H
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012796:Sialography; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014393:Tuberculosis, Oral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m