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

Abstract

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. Retrospective, observational, monocentric study. Thirty-six patients (81% female, mean age = 48 ± 35 years) with primary or secondary SS who underwent MRSIAL were included in the study. 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%). 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. 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E83-E89, 2021.