Evaluation of ultrasonographic features of major salivary glands and oral symptoms in patients with sjogren's syndrome

This thesis study aimed to evaluate the relationships between the ultrasonographic findings of the salivary glands, the frequency of oral symptoms, the DMFT index and the unstimulated salivary flow rate in patients diagnosed with Sjögren Syndrome (SS). In this retrospective study, the ultrasonographic findings of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands in patients diagnosed with SS were evaluated according to the Hocevar and Milic scoring system (echogenicity, homogeneity, hypoechoic area, hyperechoic reflection and glandular border clarity), and the frequency of oral findings, the unstimulated salivary flow rate and the DMFT index were calculated and the relationships between these parameters were examined. The ultrasonographic data and the DMFT index of SS patients were compared with the healthy control group data. The study population consisted of 43 SS patients and 43 healthy controls. The mean age of the patients was 50.09±11,235 years and the mean disease duration was 37.14±51,805 months. It was observed that the total Hocevar and Milic scores were significantly higher in the patients than in the control group (p<0.05). The DMFT index, the frequency of burning mouth and stomatitis was significantly higher in patients with salivary flow rate ≤0.1 ml/min (p<0.05). The submandibular gland Hocevar score was higher in patients with salivary flow rate ≤0.1 ml/min (p=0.002) and in patients with burning mouth symptom (p=0.027). Hocevar and Milic total scores were found to be significantly lower in patients with a salivary flow rate >0.1 ml/min. A positive correlation was observed between the parotid Hocevar score, submandibular gland Hocevar score, Hocevar total score and Milic total score and DMFT in the patient group (p<0.05). The increase in salivary gland ultrasonography scores in SS patients correlated with a decrease in unstimulated salivary flow rate and an increase in the DMFT index, indicating that ultrasonography scores are associated with oral and dental findings. The diagnosis of SS is challenging, and dentists play an important role in the early diagnosis of the disease. They must also be aware of the special treatment needs of these patients. KEYWORDS: Sjögren Syndrome, Salivary Gland Ultrasonography, Oral Symptoms, DMFT, Salivary Flow Rate