[Diagnostic imaging of the salivary glands in children and adolescents]

In children and adolescents, imaging of the salivary glands is a valuable supplement to clinical examination in various diseases. The choice of the most appropriate radiological technique depends on patient compliance, the necessity of avoiding radiation exposure as far as possible, and the tentative diagnosis made on the basis of the clinical examination. Ultrasonography (US) is the method of choice for the detection of both acute inflammatory disease and masses in the salivary gland and the adjacent tissue. US can also be implemented as a screening method for calculi, though sialography is superior for this purpose. Sialography is the only technique that allows diagnosis and evaluation of the degree of chronic inflammation. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are required for more deeply located neoplasms of the parotid region.