Current Ultrasonography Potential in the Diagnosis of Juvenile Recurrent Parotitis

Objective: To determine the diagnostic significance of sonographic signs indicating the parotid glands’ condition in children with juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP). Materials and methods: We examined 42 patients with JRP and 30 children aged 3-17 years from the control group. Both groups underwent B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography of parotid glands to assess linear dimensions, contours, structures, echogenicity, pronouncement of the stromal component, parenchymal vascularization, and condition of intraglandular lymph nodes. The diagnostic significance of the sonographic signs was assessed by ROC analysis. Results and discussion: We found significant differences between the study and control groups in terms of such sonographic signs as gland enlargement, decreased parenchymal echogenicity, change in the echotexture, increased stromal component, increased parenchymal vascularization, and reactive parotid lymph nodes (P < .05). With the high-frequency probe we were able to study the structure of JRP-associated hypoechoic foci in the parenchyma and prove that they are not cystic dilatation of the ducts but foci of infiltration around the peripheral ducts with structurally altered walls. Conclusions: Ultrasonography plays a pivotal role in the JRP diagnosis and can identify its most significant sonographic signs, such as increased size, distinctive changes in the parenchymal echotexture, decreased echogenicity, and increased parenchymal vascularization.