Practical Salivary Ultrasound Imaging Tips and Pearls

Ultrasound imaging is a valuable and effective clinical tool for salivary gland disorder evaluation and management. Pathologies including salivary duct stenosis, sialolithiasis, neoplasms, and autoimmune disorders have characteristic sonographic features. Maneuvers such as bimanual palpation and oral administration of sialagogues during the ultrasound examination can enhance examination findings. Ultrasound guidance is useful for targeting needle biopsies of neoplasms, ensuring appropriate intraparenchymal gland injections, and augmenting salivary duct instrumentation and intraoperative management.