Sialography by Means of a Polyethylene Catheter and Water Soluble Contrast Medium (Isopaque 75%)

Sialography is a radiological method used to demonstrate the anatomy of the salivary ducts and glands and their various diseases. To make full use of this examination one must have a good knowledge of the anatomy of the area and have mastered the technique. A metal cannula in the salivary ducts with iodised oil as the contrast medium has been widely used in sialography since Barsony's description of the method in 1925 (Ollerenshaw and Rose, 1957; Stiris, 1959). Because reactions in the salivary glands can follow the use of iodised oil (thereby making an ensuing operation difficult) it has been gradually replaced by water-soluble contrast media. However, these contrast media disappear so quickly from the salivary ducts, that to obtain satisfactory films it is necessary to maintain a continuous flow of contrast during the exposures. Gullmo and Bøøk-Hederstrøm (1958) described a method in which a long polyethylene catheter is joined to the cannula, which is then introduced into the salivary duct. Prior to this the catheter is filled with contrast which can then run in by hydrostatic pressure alone. The cannula is held in position by means of a metal clip. Instead of using a metal cannula, a polyethylene catheter can be inserted into the salivary duct, in which case a metal clip in the mouth is unnecessary; the catheter can simply be fastened to the patient's cheek. The latter method was described by Liverud in 1959. He used iodised oil as the contrast medium and injected it by hand.