Sonographic evaluation of salivary glands in juvenile Sjögren's syndrome.

IIntroduction: Sjögren's syndrome in childhood is a rare autoimmune disease and mostly under-diagnosed. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of ultrasonographic assessment of the salivary glands in children with recurrent parotitis and positive autoantibodies. Two cases of ultrasonographic patterns typical of Sjögren's syndrome have been described below. Case 1: Female, 7 years old, reporting for 2 years recurrent parotitis, xerophthalmia, xerostomia, polyarthralgia and fever. Immunological tests were positive for antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La. Salivary glands ultrasound was consistent with Grade 4 by the B-mode method and the spectral Doppler with presence of intense Power Doppler signal and decreased vessels internal resistance, supporting the diagnosis of juvenile Sjögren's syndrome. Case 2: Female, 10 years old, reporting recurrent parotitis for 1 year and polyarthritis for 10 days. The supplementary tests revealed positive antibodies for Sjögren's syndrome. Salivary glands Ultrasound and Spectral Doppler were consistent with chronic and active inflammatory process of the salivary glands in the juvenile Sjögren's syndrome.

DISCUSSION: Salivary glands ultrasound can be a useful exam in the diagnosis of juvenile Sjögren's syndrome.