Salivary Gland Scan

Overview :

A salivary gland scan, also called a parotid gland scan, is a noninvasive test. The patient is positioned under a gamma scintillation camera that detects radiation. The patient then is injected with a low-level radioactive marker, usually technetium-99m or technetium pertechnetate.

Immediately after the injection, imaging begins. For accurate results, the patient must stay still during imaging. After several images, the patient is given lemon drop candies to suck on, which stimulate the salivary glands. Another set of images is made for comparison purposes. The entire process takes about ten minutes for the injection and 30-45 minutes for the scan.