Two-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography in the Assessment of Salivary Gland Involvement in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in the assessment of salivary gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods: Fifty-three patients with pSS and 30 healthy volunteers were included. The echogenicity of all submandibular and parotid glands was evaluated with B-mode ultrasound, and their elasticity was assessed with 2D SWE. The mean and standard deviation of the shear wave speed and elasticity modes on 2D SWE were calculated. Results: The mean shear wave speed and elasticity mode values for the submandibular and parotid glands were significantly higher in the patients with pSS (P <.05). The mean elasticity of the shear wave speed mode was best able to differentiate the parotid glands of patients with pSS from those of healthy volunteers at a cutoff value of 2.48 m/s, whereas the mean elasticity of the elasticity mode was best able to differentiate the submandibular glands of patients with pSS from those of healthy volunteers at a cutoff value of 21 kPa. Conclusions: Two-dimensional SWE is an effective technique for assessment of the parenchyma of the salivary glands in patients with pSS and predicts interstitial fibrosis and the severity of histologic damage.