Lu Cheng-Hsun, Huang Yi-Min, Hsieh Song-Chou, Li Ko-Jen
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Med Ultrasound. 2022 Jul 5;31(2):112-118. doi: 10.4103/jmu.jmu_173_21. eCollection 2023 Apr-Jun.
Ultrasound (US) can detect salivary gland abnormalities in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). This study aimed to compare the correlation among the semiquantitative US scores, texture features, and the quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) results.
This retrospective study included 11 patients who were diagnosed with primary SS and underwent US examinations of the parotid glands and SGS simultaneously. We evaluated SGS quantitatively based on the calculation of maximum accumulation ratio (MAR) and stimulated excretion fraction (EF). The US findings were accessed through the semiquantitative Outcome Measures in Rheumatology scoring system and by gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture analysis. Spearman's rank correlation tests were performed.
A significant moderate negative correlation was noted between the semiquantitative US score and MAR (rho = -0.57, = 0.006), but not with EF (rho = -0.11, = 0.613). The GLCM texture metrics, including contrast, dissimilarity, and homogeneity, were all determined to be significantly associated with both MAR and EF. The GLCM contrast correlated moderately to MAR (rho = -0.66, = 0.001). The GLCM homogeneity highly correlated to EF (rho = 0.74, < 0.001). The contrast and homogeneity can still discriminate the changes in MAR and EF in the subgroups with the same semiquantitative US scores.
US findings on parotid gland can correlate with SGS results when analyzed based on GLCM texture features. With the GLCM texture metrics, US appears to be an excellent imaging tool for the assessment of the parotid glands in primary SS patients.
超声（US）可检测原发性干燥综合征（SS）患者的唾液腺异常。本研究旨在比较半定量US评分、纹理特征与定量唾液腺闪烁显像（SGS）结果之间的相关性。
这项回顾性研究纳入了11例被诊断为原发性SS且同时接受腮腺US检查和SGS检查的患者。我们通过计算最大蓄积率（MAR）和刺激排泄分数（EF）对SGS进行定量评估。通过风湿病学结局测量半定量评分系统和灰度共生矩阵（GLCM）纹理分析来评估US检查结果。进行Spearman等级相关性检验。
半定量US评分与MAR之间存在显著的中度负相关（rho = -0.57，P = 0.006），但与EF无相关性（rho = -0.11，P = 0.613）。包括对比度、差异度和同质性在内的GLCM纹理指标均被确定与MAR和EF均显著相关。GLCM对比度与MAR中度相关（rho = -0.66，P = 0.001）。GLCM同质性与EF高度相关（rho = 0.74，P < 0.001）。在具有相同半定量US评分的亚组中，对比度和同质性仍可区分MAR和EF的变化。
基于GLCM纹理特征分析时，腮腺的US检查结果与SGS结果具有相关性。借助GLCM纹理指标，US似乎是评估原发性SS患者腮腺的一种优秀成像工具。
