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.