Influencing Factors, Reference Range and Repeatability of Salivary Gland Ultrasound Viscoelastic Imaging in Healthy Adults.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to determine the influencing factors, reference range, the changes of salivary gland secretion function and repeatability of measurements taken from ultrasound (US) viscoelastic imaging in the salivary glands of healthy adults.

METHODS

From August 2023 to October 2023, 206 healthy adults were recruited. In November 2023, 50 healthy adults were recruited for acid stimulation testing. All volunteers underwent conventional and viscoelastic US of the salivary glands. The viscoelasticity values in different regions of interest (ROI), observers, genders, ages, body mass index (BMI) groups and before and after acid stimulation were compared separately. A two-sided 95% reference range was estimated accordingly.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the E-mean and V-mean values among different ROIs (p > 0.05). The intra-group correlation coefficient values between the different observers were all >0.908. Except for the influence of age on the E-mean value of the parotid gland, the V-mean of the parotid gland, the E-mean and V-mean of the submandibular gland were not affected by age, gender or BMI. Finally, differences were detected in the E-means and V-means of the parotid and submandibular glands before and after acid stimulation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

US viscoelastic imaging is a simple and reliable technique for evaluating the stiffness and viscosity of salivary glands in healthy adults. It also can be used to dynamically evaluate the changes of salivary gland secretion function.