Sonoelastographic Modalities in the Evaluation of Salivary Gland Characteristics in Sjögren's Syndrome

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate salivary tissue assessment with various sonoelastographic modalities (real-time tissue elastography, Virtual Touch imaging and quantification) in patients with Sjögren's syndrome as compared with an appropriate control group. The sonoelastographic modalities were evaluated in 50 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Patients underwent high-resolution ultrasonography of the submandibular and parotid glands. Results of B-mode, real-time tissue elastography, Virtual Touch imaging—each graded with the appropriate scoring system—and Virtual Touch quantification were compared with those for 50 patients with sicca symptoms who did not fulfill the American–European consensus group criteria. In B-mode, 34 of 50 parotid glands in patients with pSS and 8 of 50 in the control group had abnormal findings ( p