Quantitative aspects of pertechnetate concentration in human parotid and submandibular salivary glands

Quantitative uptakes of 99Tcm-pertechnetate by the salivary glands have been measured in 36 subjects and normal values established. While uptake over the parotid gland increased with time, parotid uptakes were higher at all time intervals than uptakes over the submandibular glands. The uptake over the submandibulars also increased with time. There was no significant difference between resting uptakes of right and left glands, a significant difference would therefore suggest the presence of pathology. Values over the parotid gland are greater under resting conditions than following stimulation, but no such difference was noted for submandibular glands. However, with stimulated glands it was also shown that there was no significant difference between the right and left parotid, or rignt and left submandibular uptakes. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.