title: Submandibular salivary gland transfer: a pitfall in head and neck imaging with F-18 FDG PET/CT.
abstract: Xerostomia is a significant morbidity of radiation treatment in the management of head and neck cancers. To preserve salivary function, a surgical technique has been developed that involves the transfer of one submandibular gland to the ipsilateral submental space, where it can be shielded during radiation therapy. F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging characteristics of recently or remotely transferred submandibular glands have not been previously described in the literature. We report 2 cases of patients with surgically transferred submandibular glands, which highlight a potential pitfall in the interpretation of PET/CT of the head and neck region in oncologic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Brandon Regional Health Centre, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. makisw79@yahoo.com
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Makis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciarallo
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abikhzer
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laufer
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18