Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Salivary Glands With Magnetic Resonance Sialography in Sjögren's Syndrome

• Published in: The Laryngoscope 2021-01, Vol.131 (1), p.E83-E89
• Main Authors: André, Raphaël, Becker, Minerva, Lombardi, Tommaso, Buchholzer, Samanta, Marchal, Francis, Seebach, Jorg D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; magnetic resonance sialography; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Salivary Gland Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Salivary Gland Diseases - etiology; Salivary Glands - diagnostic imaging; Sialography - methods; sicca syndrome; Sjogren's Syndrome - complications; Sjogren's Syndrome - diagnosis; Sjogren's Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Sjögren's syndrome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.28742

Objectives/Hypothesis To compare the results of magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance sialography (MRSIAL) and the clinical and laboratory characteristics in a well‐characterized cohort of patients with primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) meeting the American–European Consensus Group criteria. Study Design: Retrospective, observational, monocentric study. Methods Thirty‐six patients (81% female, mean age = 48 ± 35 years) with primary or secondary SS who underwent MRSIAL were included in the study. Results MRSIAL revealed characteristic radiological signs in the parotid, sublingual, and submandibular salivary glands in 35/36 patients (97%). Patients presenting with anti‐Sjögren's syndrome–related antigen A (SSA) autoantibodies showed more often fatty infiltration, a “pepper‐and‐salt” appearance, ductal stenosis, and/or ductal dilation of the parotid gland (88%, 88%, and 72% respectively) than patients negative for anti‐SSA (12%, 4%, and 28% respectively). MRSIAL demonstrated signs characteristic of SS in all 11 patients with negative minor salivary gland biopsy. For 15 patients undergoing ultrasound examination only, 11 (73%) had SS findings, but all 15 had SS findings on MRSIAL. Two cases of parotid lymphoma were detected by MRSIAL (6%). Conclusions MRSIAL is a reliable technique to detect glandular anomalies in patients with SS, and seems to provide a valuable aid in the diagnosis of SS. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E83–E89, 2021