Salivary gland scintigraphy in subjects with and without symptoms of dry mouth and/or eyes, and in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
The major salivary glands were examined with 99m-Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy in randomly selected subjects with (n = 30) and without (n = 12) symptoms of dry mouth and/or eyes, and in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (1 degree SS, n = 17). The scans were quantitatively evaluated and compared to other objective tests used to diagnose 1 degree SS. As compared with those for asymptomatic subjects, most values for the scintigraphic variables were non-significantly lower for symptomatic subjects and the time-activity curves were slightly flatter for all major salivary glands. In patients with 1 degree SS most values for the scintigraphic variables were significantly lowered and the submandibular glands were the glands most affected, as reflected in a flat time-activity curve, while the parotid glands were mainly affected during stimulated secretion. The scintigraphic variables correlated with the self-rated dryness of mouth in symptomatic subjects and with the abnormality of sialometry results in patients with 1 degree SS. We conclude that salivary gland scintigraphy is a sensitive and valid method to measure salivary gland function and abnormalities.
Håkansson
U
U
Department of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Jacobsson
L
L
Lilja
B
B
Manthorpe
R
R
Henriksson
V
V
D000368:Aged; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*