[Study of the salivary glands in 1990]

Radiologic examination of the salivary glands can provide clinically useful information that may help to establish the diagnosis and indicate appropriate therapy. US and conventional sialography remain the standard methods of examination for inflammatory diseases and superficial parotid masses. However, CT and MR have allowed a new means of examination of parotid lesions, or of lesions around the parotid gland. MR appears to be the procedure of choice to investigate adenoid cystic carcinoma, recurrence and tumors expanding into the pterygopharyngal space or the sub-tonsillar space. Stenon duct endoscopy is a new imaging and therapeutic procedure to be introduced into the therapeutic strategy in these patients.