MR imaging of the salivary glands in sicca syndrome: comparison of lipid profiles and imaging in patients with hyperlipidemia and patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We correlated abnormalities on MR imaging with the plasma lipid profiles of patients with hyperlipidemia and symptoms of sicca syndrome.


METHODS
MR imaging features of the salivary glands, salivary function, immunologic abnormalities, and plasma lipid profiles were analyzed in 24 patients with hyperlipidemia and symptoms of sicca syndrome and compared with those of 50 patients with Sjögren's syndrome.


RESULTS
Swelling of the parotid gland, impaired salivary flow, or both were observed in 20 (83%) of 24 patients with hyperlipidemia and symptoms of sicca syndrome. MR imaging findings included an enlarged parotid gland replaced with extensive lipid infiltration, whereas sialography of the parotid gland revealed normal findings. Immunologic studies and analyses of the labial glands of the mouth revealed distinctive features in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Importantly, elevated levels of plasma triglyceride correlated with parotid gland swelling, and increased cholesterol levels significantly affected salivary flow.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest a distinct entity of sicca syndrome in patients with hyperlipidemia compared with patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Characteristic MR imaging findings of salivary glands in patients with hyperlipidemia included extensive lipid infiltration and gland enlargement.
Izumi
M
M
Department of Radiology and Cancer Biology, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
Hida
A
A
Takagi
Y
Y
Kawabe
Y
Y
Eguchi
K
K
Nakamura
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol