Sialolith’s Detection Discrepancy Between CBCT and Previous US
2Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Israel
Purpose: Sialoliths, causing salivary gland sialadenitis (sialolithiasis), may be demonstrated using various imaging techniques including ultrasonography (US) and CBCT (cone-beam computerized tomography). The aim of this study was to examine and characterize sialoliths’ detection using CBCT and compared it to previous detection using US of the salivary glands.
Methods: We retrospectively retrieved CBCT scans performed due to suspected sialolithiasis, in patients with US of the salivary glands recently performed. Cases were sorted into 3 groups: (1) Cases in which the US and CBCT described the same number of sialoliths, (2) Cases in which the US report mentioned less sialoliths, compared to the CBCT, and (3) Cases where the US found none of the sialoliths depicted by CBCT. The radiological characteristics, including sialolith location along the duct and size, in each group were analyzed and compared.
Results: Our study included 37 CBCT scans with 49 sialoliths. Most (78%) were uniquely detected by CBCT, while two, three, and four sialoliths were found in 14%, 5% and 3% of the CBCT scans, respectively. In 49% of scans, sialoliths found by CBCT were not mentioned in previous US. Sialoliths smaller than 3.19-3.44mm had twice the chance of not being mentioned in the US while those larger than 6.5-7.5mm, were twice as likely to be noted.
Conclusions: CBCT examination for suspected sialoliths may demonstrate smaller and/or additional sialoliths, which may not be depicted in US of the salivary glands. Submandibular main duct sialoliths in the distal and middle part are more likely to be found in CBCT than in US examination.