title: [Intraductal application of Levovist® in salivary glands of animals].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several methods are well established for the imaging of salivary glands. Excluding the invasive method sialendoscopy all other methods show the salivary duct system inadequately. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a method to visualize the salivary duct system by B-mode ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 10 parotid glands of common pig cadavers the ultrasound contrast agent Levovist (®), which is galactose stabilized by palmitic acid was applied into the main salivary ducts while simultaneously performing a transcutaneous B-mode ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cadavers a visualization of the salivary duct system could be achieved by the application of Levovist (®) because of contrast enhancement. This effect arises as a result of an increased reflection of ultrasound waves on the surface of the microbubbles contained in the contrast agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A reproducible visualization of the salivary duct system with B-mode ultrasound is possible by an intraductal application of an ultrasound contrast agent. In future this could be established as a reliable and fast method for imaging of the salivary ducts without ionizing radiation for the patient.
authors: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf-Halschirurgie und Plastische Operationen des Universitätsklinikums Gießen & Marburg, Standort Gießen. tobiaskroll@web.de
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kroll
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Helbig
authors: J-P
authors: JP
authors: Klussmann
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Wittekindt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007267:Injections; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011134:Polysaccharides; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508