Applicability of shear wave elastography for lacrimal gland evaluation in primary Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract

The present study is the first attempt to assess if shear wave elastography (SWE) of lacrimal glands can be used to support the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome. Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) not only manifests itself as a "sicca syndrome", characterized by ocular and oral dryness, but also includes a variety of extraglandular manifestations. As a result, appropriate diagnosis of pSS still poses a challenge. The current classification criteria for pSS include only functional tests (Schirmer's test and ocular staining score, or van Bijsterfeld score) for eye assessment. Among imaging diagnostic methods there is still a lack of simple, non-invasive and quantitative method that would support the diagnosis of pSS.According to the results that were obtained in our study, SWE of lacrimal glands can become a reliable additional examination tool that can contribute to the diagnosis of pSS.

Advances in imaging of the lacrimal gland in Sjögren's syndrome: A narrative review

“…Świecka et al conducted a study that included 108 healthy controls and 45 patients with PSS 60 . When compared to the control group, the SWE values for the lacrimal glands were considerably greater in the PSS patients.…”

UHFUS: A Valuable Tool in Evaluating Exocrine Gland Abnormalities in Sjögren’s Disease

“…Lacrimal glands often exhibit elevated SWE values, which suggest the presence of fibrotic changes. SWE parameters are associated with several clinical features, including OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index), ESSPRI (EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index), and the occurrence of dry eye [24][25][26]. Studies have also demonstrated the utility of ultrasonography in differentiating neoplastic lesions within the lacrimal gland, such as lymphoma or non-epithelial lesions.…”