Makula et al used ultrasonography to evaluate the parotid gland in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. The authors found ultrasonography sufficient for the evaluation of most patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. The authors are from Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University in Szeged.
Size for the normal parotid: 20 to 34 mm in width
The consistency of the parotid gland was compared to the thyroid gland.
Parameters:
(1) diameter of hypoechogenic areas in mm
(2) borders of hypoechogenic areas
Diameter of Hypoechogenic Areas
Borders
Parenchymal Inhomogeneity (PIH)
none
none
Grade 0 (absent)
< 2 mm
blurred
Grade 1 (mild)
2 to 6 mm
sharper
Grade 2 (moderate)
> 6 mm
circumscribed
Grade 3 (severe)
The appearance of malignant lymphoma:
(1) hypoechoic "cobblestone" inhomogeneous pattern on ultrasonography
(2) almost homogeneous pattern on MRK
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