New strategy for the diagnosis of parotid gland lesions utilizing three-dimensional sialography.
Three-dimensional (3D) imaging for parotid gland lesions was performed using 3D sialography. This method provided a detailed surface structure of the parotid gland, and made it possible to overcome the disadvantages of X-ray sialography, planar CT, and MRI. Immediately after the conventional sialography via an oral route, CT scanning was performed with a slice-thickness of 3 mm using a helical CT scanner. CT data were analyzed on a workstation to reconstruct 3D images. 3D sialography was found to have the following advantages: (1) The structure of the acinar surface is visualized in detail; (2) The 3D structure of the entire parotid system from Stensen's duct to the gland is shown in one image; (3) The parotid gland can be assessed in the context of the bony architecture of facial bones; (4) The surface structure of the parotid gland can be understood very easily, like a scanning electron micrograph. We conclude that 3D sialography is a useful imaging technique for parotid gland lesions.
Kosaka
M
M
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. kosaka@med.kindai.ac.jp
Kamiishi
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012796:Sialography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed