[Clinical value of sialography in digital and conventional imaging technique]

Digital subtraction sialography offers a new technique for the diagnosis of salivary gland disease. The basis of this technique is the removal of superimposed bony structures. Ninety-one patients (4-77 years old) with acute and chronic inflammatory disorders, chronic sialectasis, chronic sialolithiasis and tumours of various types underwent sialography using the digital subtraction technique. In addition, conventional sialography using a 100 mm camera and high resolution ultrasonography was performed. The results were compared with the histopathology and intraoperative findings. The digital subtraction technique is superior in recognition of inflammatory changes and chronic sialolithiasis, whereas ultrasonography is more sensitive in diagnosis and localization of tumours.