Examination of serum amylase levels before and after sialography may be useful in the evaluation of parotid function. This examination was perfomd in several patients with dry mouth. The difference in serum amylase levels before and after sialography in patients treated with radiation wsa significantly lower than in normal subjects, but there was no significant difference between patients not treated with radiation and normal subjects . Oxazolam was useful in only one of the 19 patients with little change in serum amylase levels. The difference in serum amylase levels was compred with the results of the gum test. Nine of the 10 patients treated with radiation showed only slight differences in both tests. In the 30 patients not treated with radiation, 16 showed little change with either test. All three patients with SjOgren's syndrome also had little change with either test. Thus, we may be able to determine parotid function to some degree by examining differences in serum amylase levels tested before and after sialography.
