[Sialoscintimetry in disorders of the facial nerve]

The comparative study of submandibular gland function before and after unilateral section of the chorda tympani, is used to verify the validity of sequential scintigraphy as a method of appraising the function of the salivary glands. Sequential scintigraphy of the submandibular glands was evaluated as a new, simple, and dependable test of the function of the submandibular glands, in topographical and prognostic assessment of 10 patients with unilateral idiopathic facial paralysis. The results of this neurodiagnostic test were compared and were found to be in close agreement with the results obtained by submandibular salivary flow measurement. The use of sequential scintigraphy of the submandibular glands constitutes a valuable tool in the clinical evaluation of patients with peripheral facial nerve disorders.