Why It Is Done

A salivary gland scan is done to:

• Find the cause of swelling in the major salivary glands. Swelling may be caused by an infection (abscess), inflammation, or a pocket of fluid (cyst).
• See if a growth in the parotid gland is a benign Warthin's tumor or if it may be cancer.
• Find the cause of dry mouth (xerostomia). Several problems can cause dry mouth, such as a blocked salivary duct, a growth in a salivary gland, or Sjögren's syndrome.