Can ARFI elastometry of the salivary glands contribute to the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome?

Elastographic ultrasound: an additional image tool in Sjögren's syndrome

“…The increased SWV seen in our study was similar to the results obtained by Samier-Gu erin, 19 but lower in the parotids when compared with data from Knopf et al 11 Herein we found a side-to-side parotid and submandibular correlation, but not between parotids and submandibulars. In contrast, other authors have reported a weak side-to-side correlation.…”

“…3 On the other hand, EU is a technique used in the assessment of tissue elasticity and/or stiffness. 10,11,[19][20][21] A former study that evaluated different non-malignant parotid gland pathologies, detected higher elastography scores in patients with sialolithiasis, Stenon's duct stenosis, chronic sialoadenitis and pSS when compared with healthy controls; however, the highest scores corresponded to SS, 20 a finding that was further corroborated in other studies. Wave propagation is faster in stiffer tissues such as those seen in some tumors or chronic liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis).…”

“…The underlying physics principle of the method consists in that tissue compression by ultrasound impulses produces displacement within the same tissue measured as the velocity of propagation of the waves (p-SWE). 11,19 In a study that included 157 patients with sicca symptoms and/or salivary swelling, and used the AECG SS classification criteria 12 as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the elastographic ultrasound was 81% and 67%, respectively. 18 Information about this novel technique in pSS is emerging.…”

“…24,25 Moreover, increased CXCL13 expression in the minor salivary glands 26 as well as higher serum 27 and saliva levels have been associated with systemic disease activity and the development of lymphoma in patients with pSS. 19 Finally, we did not include a group of patients with other salivary gland diseases accompanied by inflammation and/or fibrosis. In keeping with this hypothesis, a study that evaluated the utility of ARFI imaging as a monitoring tool for the effect of a liposomal local therapy in pSS, found a decline in parotid gland stiffness and improvement of the symptoms after 2 months of treatment.…”

Assessment of Parotid and Submandibular Glands With Shear Wave Elastography Following Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

“…The target tissue is mechanically stimulated by short‐duration acoustic pulses to produce small (1–10 mm) localized tissue displacements. This tissue displacement results in shear wave dissemination, which is tracked with the probe and measured as SWV (m/s) …”