SALIVARY GLAND SCANNING WITH TECHNETIUM 99M PERTECHNETATE

Abstract
Technetium 99m pertechnetate (TPT) head and neck scans have been used to evaluate patients with a variety of extracranial tumors and non-neoplastic conditions. Decreased saliva flow, a clinically dry mouth and sialectasis of the smaller salivary ducts are associated with a decrease in TPT uptake by the salivary glands. TPT scans are useful for discriminating among different salivary gland tumors (such as "hot" Warthin's tumors and "cold" mixed tumors). The position of the salivary glands can be determined by TPT scanning and the size and extent of adjacent mass lesions can be evaluated.