Value of Quantitative Salivary Gland SPECT/CT for the Detection of Saliva Leakage

Abstract

A 47-year-old woman presented to our emergency department with a 10-day history of pain, halitosis, and swelling below the left jaw. The patient was diagnosed with left sialadenitis and left submandibular abscess by tissue biopsy. An otolaryngologist performed transcervical incision and drainage of the abscess 1 day after admission. Postoperatively, the patient complained of a sensation of fluid leakage from the mouth, and a continuous purulent discharge was observed. One month postoperatively, a salivary gland scan and SPECT/CT were performed to investigate the sialorrhea and the cause of the discharge. Salivary gland SPECT/CT images localized the saliva leakage site.