One of the most common manifestations of Sjögren’s Disease is dry mouth, that occurs due to autoimmune mediated attack of the salivary glands. Currently, the most common diagnostic tool is the salivary gland biopsy that requires a small sample of tissue to be collected for laboratory analyses. However, biopsies are considered invasive procedures which are fairly resource intensive and may lead to complications such as tissue damage. On the other hand, ultrasound is a non-invasive test that applies sound waves to the human body and creates images which reflect the structure and integrity of tissues.
The research study, “Diagnostic value of ultrasound evaluation of major salivary glands for Sjögren’s syndrome based on the novel OMERACT scoring system,” was published in the European Journal of Radiology, August 2022. A working group at the Outcome Measurement of Clinical Trials in Rheumatology (OMERACT) had set out to determine if ultrasound of the salivary glands could offer an alternative to biopsy for accurate detection of Sjögren’s. As a first step, the researchers devised a grading system to assess salivary gland damage on a scale of 0 to 3, based on characteristic signs of gland damage. As a second step, the researchers assessed whether the OMERACT criteria could be used to distinguish people with and without Sjögren’s when compared to a tissue biopsy.
The trial included data from 242 participants, average age of 44 years, who underwent ultrasound for four major salivary glands. Among the participants, 145 (60%) were diagnosed with Sjögren’s, while the remaining 97 (40%) were diagnosed with other health conditions that resulted in dry mouth. Analysis showed that OMERACT scores were generally consistent with biopsy results when reviewed by experienced medical professionals with a specialty in ultrasound. More specifically, the OMERACT scale could be used to accurately identify 76% of individuals with Sjögren’s and about 90% of those without.
In conclusion, ultrasound appears to be a promising contender in terms of accuracy and practicality. More work needs to be done to standardize ultrasound procedures and determine the accuracy of OMERACT criteria when used by junior medical professionals.
Reference
Tang G, Luo Y, Mo Y, Yao J, Yang H, Hao S. Diagnostic value of ultrasound evaluation of major salivary glands for Sjögren's syndrome based on the novel OMERACT scoring system. Eur J Radiol. 2023;162:110765. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.110765
