Prenatal Ultrasound Evaluation of Salivary Glands During Mid-Trimester Scans

Congenital anomalies of salivary glands (SG) are rare and include aplasia, hypoplasia, ectopic/accessory SG, tumors and ductal atresia. While ectopic and accessory SG do not require treatment, aplasia/hypoplasia leads to xerostomia with resultant oral health deterioration. Ductal atresia leads to the formation of mucus retention cysts, requiring surgical excision after birth. Recognizing the normal sonoanatomy of SG during routine mid-trimester fetal ultrasound scans is essential for detecting congenital anomalies. The purpose of this study is to describe the normal sonographic appearance of SG and devise a scanning protocol for assessment of SG and associated temporomandibular structures.