Sialography is commonly used for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome, although its invasive nature is often regarded as a serious drawback for routine usage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and acceptability of parotid sialography using oil-based contrast fluid.
Twenty-four consecutive sialographic procedures were evaluated in terms of morbidity and the patient's acceptance of the procedure, assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Information was also obtained by recording relevant physical parameters during the procedure.
There was good acceptance of the sialographic procedure, and the morbidity was low. No signs of overfilling or false route were observed in any of the sialograms. On average, 0.74 mL of contrast fluid was infused with a velocity of 0.01 mL/s. The whole procedure was completed within 12 minutes.
Parotid sialography appears less invasive than is often thought. It had a low morbidity rate and was well accepted by the patients.