Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the lacrimal gland in sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) can affect the orbit with prior reports describing changes in the lacrimal gland potentially related to chronic vaso-occlusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lacrimal gland volumes and quantifiable shifts in MR-relaxation times in patients with SCD.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with SCD and 12 age-matched control subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbits with 1.5-T MRI. Lacrimal glands were segmented manually; and gland volumes, peak, and mean T1- and T2-relaxation times were obtained from histogram analysis.


RESULTS
In patients with SCD, significant peak and mean T2 shortening (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) and increased gland volume (P = 0.008) were observed. Significant correlations were seen between gland volumes in the patients SCD and peak T1 and T2 values (r = 0.6, P = 0.017; r = 0.56; P = 0.031) as well as between gland volumes and mean T1 and T2 values (r = 0.54, P = 0.039; r = 0.57, P = 0.026).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences in MR relaxometry and lacrimal gland enlargement provide evidence of subclinical lacrimal gland pathology and chronic lacrimal gland changes patients with SCD.
From the *Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, †Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, ‡Department of Medicine, and §Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Karen
K
Buch
Memi
M
Watanabe
Elliott J
EJ
Elias
Joseph H
JH
Liao
Hernan
H
Jara
Rohini N
RN
Nadgir
Naoko
N
Saito
Martin H
MH
Steinberg
Osamu
O
Sakai
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology*; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult