ABSTRACT Purpose This study intends to assess the salivary glands of individuals with hypothyroidism and healthy controls using B‐mode ultrasonography (US) parameters, shear wave elastography (SWE) values, and colour Doppler characteristics. Additionally, the study aims to compare salivary flow rates between the patient groups. Methods A total of 160 submandibular glands and 160 parotid glands from 80 patients (40 hypothyroidism individuals and 40 controls) were assessed using ultrasonography. Echogenicity, internal parenchymal structure, margin characteristics, dimensional measures, and colour Doppler and SWE assessments were conducted using a linear probe. Furthermore, the stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rates of each subject were quantified in millilitres per minute (mL/min). Results A statistically significant difference was identified between the hypothyroidism and control groups regarding echogenicity, margin characteristics, parenchymal homogeneity, colour Doppler metrics, medio‐lateral dimension, and mean values of SWE (kPa) and SWE (m/Sn) in the right submandibular gland; margin characteristics, parenchymal homogeneity, colour Doppler metrics, and mean values of SWE (kPa) and SWE (m/Sn) in the left submandibular gland; as well as echogenicity, margin characteristics, parenchymal homogeneity, and mean values of SWE (kPa) and SWE (m/Sn) in both the right and left parotid glands ( p < 0.05). The patient group had significantly reduced stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rates ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Hypothyroidism has been shown to be associated with structural and functional changes in the salivary glands, including decreased salivary flow and increased gland stiffness. US and SWE are reliable imaging methods for evaluating the salivary glands in individuals with hypothyroidism.
Gök et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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