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.