Semi-quantitative analysis of salivary gland scintigraphy in Sjogren's syndrome diagnosis: a first-line tool.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the assessment of semi-quantified salivary gland dynamic scintigraphy (SGdS) parameters independently and in an integrated way in order to predict primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six consecutive patients (41 females; age 61 +/- 11 years) with sicca syndrome were studied by SGdS after injection of 200 MBq of pertechnetate. In sixteen patients, pSS was diagnosed, according to American-European Consensus Group criteria (AECGc). Semi-quantitative parameters (uptake (UP) and excretion fraction (EF)) were obtained for each gland. ROC curves were used to determine the best cut-off value. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to estimate the accuracy of each semi-quantitative analysis. To assess the correlation between scintigraphic results and disease severity, semi-quantitative parameters were plotted versus Sjogren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI). A nomogram was built to perform an integrated evaluation of all the scintigraphic semi-quantitative data. RESULTS: Both UP and EF of salivary glands were significantly lower in pSS patients compared to those in non-pSS (p < 0.001). ROC curve showed significantly large AUC for both the parameters (p < 0.05). Parotid UP and submandibular EF, assessed by univariated and multivariate logistic regression, showed a significant and independent correlation with pSS diagnosis (p value <0.05). No correlation was found between SGdS semi-quantitative parameters and ESSDAI. The proposed nomogram accuracy was 87%. CONCLUSION: SGdS is an accurate and reproducible tool for the diagnosis of pSS. ESSDAI was not shown to be correlated with SGdS data. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SGdS should be the first-line imaging technique in patients with suspected pSS.