Possibility of sialographic sonography: A doppler phantom study

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to develop a new diagnostic method that has the merits of both sialography and sonography. Study design. Saline solution and various contrast media (Urografin 76%; 100%, 90%, and 67% Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide; 5% and 1% barium sulfate; and Levovist) were injected into thin tubes at a rate of approximately 0.001 to 0.1 mL/s. The relation-ship between the Doppler signal intensity and the kind, concentration, and velocity of the fluid was analyzed. Results. Levovist, 90% and 67% Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide, and the barium sulfate solutions produced Doppler signals. The mixture of Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide and saline solution produced high signals at any concentration, in contrast with the barium sulfate solutions. Signals could be observed at any speed, from the speed of normal sialography down to 0.001 mL/s, and there was a proportional relationship between signal intensity and velocity for all fluids producing signals. Conclusion. The fact that we could obtain high signals with several fluids indicates potential clinical diagnostic usefulness of sialographic sonography.