[Conventional roentgen diagnosis of the salivary glands. Still of clinical value or "traditional care"-].

This paper reviews the examination technique, normal findings, and pathological findings in conventional radiographic diagnosis of the salivary glands. The clinical importance of plain radiographs and sialography today despite the availability of modern imaging modalities is discussed. Of the ultrasound equipment is adequate and the examiner has enough experience in small-parts ultrasonography, application of conventional X-ray methods should be limited to confirmation of ultrasonographic suspicion of sialolithiasis or tumor-erosion of adjacent bone, especially the mandible (plain films), further imaging of extra- and intraglandular salivary duct abnormalities in chronic inflammatory salivary gland disease, and demonstrating salivary gland involvement in special entities, such as sialadenosis (pseudo)cystica in Sjögren-syndrome by sialography.