SALIVARY-GLAND SCINTIGRAPHY USING TECHNETIUM-99M-PERTECHNETATE AFTER AUTOTRANSPLANTATION OF THE SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY-GLAND IN THE CORRECTION OF DRY EYE

The aim of the study was to determine whether salivary gland scintigra phy using technetium-99m pertechnetate is suitable for checking the vi tality and function after autotransplantation of the submandibular sal ivary gland in patients with dry eye syndrome. To this end, 56 scintig raphic studies in 20 patients have so Ear been performed, In addition, these scans were evaluated by a region of interest (ROI) technique in order to examinee tracer uptake in the early and late stages after su rgery. We have been able to prove that in this special respect, too, t he salivary gland scintigraphy is suitable for assessing reliably the vitality and function of the transplanted gland. The secretion into th e eye and thus the patency of the efferent duct can also be displayed, This proved to be particularly valuable in those cases in which at fi rst no secretion could be seen in the clinical examination. In patient s with uncertain excretory function, we were able to distinguish betwe en non-vitality and lack of patency of the secretory duct. Using ROI e valuation, no significant decrease in the salivary function has been d etected in long-term follow-up, now extending to 1 year after surgery.