Appropriate utilization of semi-quantitative analysis in salivary scintigraphy

Abstract

This finding, together with previous work indicating that uptake parameters are only sensitive to differences exceeding 25% of the gland mass, the possibility that xerostomia may result from qualitative as well as quantitative changes in saliva and the probability that immune factors decrease neurosecretory circuits without affecting acinar mass, suggest that those indices derived from salivary TACs that directly reflect trapping and uptake are not useful in the detection of salivary gland disease.

Salivary gland functional recovery after sialendoscopy

“…It correlates well with flow rates of salivary glands 9. Scintigraphy can provide quantitative data about glandular uptake and excretion function, and has been widely used in the evaluation of salivary function in patients with various diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome, radiation‐induced salivary gland injuries, salivary tumors, and obstructive diseases 10–14. In Sjögren's syndrome, salivary scintigraphy can gauge the severity of salivary gland involvement and join minor salivary gland biopsy and whole sialometry as an objective criterion in the diagnosis.…”

A software tool for the assessment of salivary gland function

“…4) Standard secretion velocity (SV) used in the literature [4], [6] is calculated from two points in the excretion phase of TAC (SV [%/min]):…”

“…Analysis of the dynamic SGS includes: 1) delineation of five regions (oral cavity and 4 salivary glands -left and right parotid, left and right submandibular) and 2) observing time activity curves (TACs) that are defined as changes in radioactivity over time in delineated regions. Over the past two decades, different quantitative indices obtained from salivary and oral TACs have been proposed [2]- [6]. The application of different acquisition and processing protocols has resulted in the wide dispersion of the reference values of indices [7]- [9].…”

Evaluation of the effect of isotretinoin on salivary gland function by Tc-99m pertechnetate imaging in acne vulgaris patients

“…injection. Quantitative functional data, for example uptake ratio, concentration, and excretion fraction, can be obtained via radionuclide imaging of the salivary glands (6)(7)(8). Evaluation of salivary gland function according to objective criteria, rather than subjective complaints, may provide an accurate assessment of patients taking isotretinoin and suffering from dry mouth.…”