Description

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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