Fractal analysis of ultrasonographic images of submandibular and parotid salivary glands in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as "a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin action, and secretion, or both". The salivary glands are affected by various systemic conditions or disorders such as endocrine diseases. Prolonged DM can cause glandular hypofunction, dry mouth, and acinar atrophy, and fat infiltration. The aim of this study is to prospectively examine the ultrasonographic images of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands between the patient group diagnosed with Type 2 DM and the healthy control group according to age, gender, BMI, glucose level, and HbA1c relationship by evaluating with fractal analysis. The study group consisted of 80 Type 2 DM study group and 80 healthy individuals aged 18 and over, who applied to Gaziantep University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Radiology for various reasons. Between the patient and control groups; a statistically significant difference was found between left sm-avg. FB, left smFB-2, left IpFB-3, SmFB-2 Avg.SM-FB values (p<0.05). According to the genders, the values of right smFB-2, right lpFB-3, left tpFB-3, lPFB-3; left IpFB-1 and left smFB-2 values according to age; a significant difference was observed in the Avg.SM-FB, SmFB-2, and left smFB-2 values according to BMI (p<0.05). A statistically significant correlation was found in the Avg.SM-FB, SmFB-3, right smFB-3, tpFB-2, lpFB-1, and left smFB-3, tpFB-1, tpFB-3 values according to HbA1c (p<0.05). In conclusion; in the USG examinations, a decrease in FBs was observed in the salivary glands of the patient group. This change was also found to be associated with gender, age, BMI, and HbA1c in diabetic patients. In order to understand the changes caused by systemic diseases in the salivary glands, it is recommended to evaluate the gland USG images with fractal analysis. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Fractal Analysis, Parotid Gland, Submandibular Gland, Ultrasonography