AbstractBackground: Salivary gland ultrasound has emerged as a promising, non-invasive method for diagnosing Sjogren's syndrome, a condition characterized by changes in the morphology of salivary glands.
Methods: A study involving 66 Iraqi participants, including 33 diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome and 33 controls, utilized ultrasound to examine the parotid glands. This technique evaluated five key parameters: echogenicity, inhomogeneity, presence of hypoechogenic areas, hyperechogenic reflections, and clarity.
Results: The study found that ultrasound was highly effective in diagnosing Sjogren's syndrome, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 97.0%. Particularly noteworthy was the association of increased disease risk with specific ultrasound findings. A one-unit increase in the inhomogeneity score was linked to a 2.3-fold increase in the risk of Sjogren’s syndrome, and a one-unit increase in the presence of hypoechogenic areas score led to a 3.5-fold increase in risk.
Conclusion: Drawn from the study highlights the utility of ultrasound in diagnosing Sjogren's syndrome. The presence of hypoechoic areas or parenchymal inhomogeneity on ultrasound proved to be highly accurate in distinguishing patients with Sjogren’s syndrome from those without the condition. This demonstrates that salivary gland ultrasound is a valuable and non-invasive diagnostic tool for Sjogren’s syndrome, offering a balance of ease, comfort, and accuracy.
