Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 19, Issue 8 505-509, Copyright © 2000 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Sonography of lacrimal glands in Sjogren syndrome
F. Giovagnorio, F. Pace and A. Giorgi
I Cattedra di Radiologia, Universita La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
This study evaluates the potential role of high resolution sonography and
color Doppler sonography in the evaluation of the lacrimal glands in
Sjogren syndrome. We examined 15 women (age range, 52-73 years) affected by
Sjogren syndrome and 15 women with no history and signs of lacrimal disease
(age range, 47-75 years). The lacrimal glands were visualized bilaterally
in 6 of 15 patients. The lacrimal artery was detectable in all patients;
the resistive index was higher than normal (0.72+/-0.04). An abnormal
Schirmer test was present in six of six patients with visible glands and in
two of nine patients with invisible glands; xerophthalmia was present in
six of six patients with visible glands and in four of nine patients with
invisible glands; high levels of serum immunoglobulins were present in six
of six patients with visible glands and in three of nine patients with
invisible glands. Sonography is able to provide noninvasively much of the
information needed by the clinician.
