Quantitative assessment of salivary gland scintigraphy with SPECT/CT in the clinical application of Sjögren's syndrome.

[OBJECTIVE] This study aims to investigate the feasibility and clinical value of single-photon-emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in the quantitative assessment of salivary gland function in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] Data were collected from 84 patients diagnosed with SS who underwent dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology between October 2020 and October 2023. Additionally, a control group of 25 thyroid cancer patients who underwent thyroidectomy was selected. Imaging data from dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy were obtained and analyzed to calculate salivary gland functional parameters, including maximum accumulation rate (MAR), uptake ratio (UR), maximum secretion rate (MSR), Tmin (time from peak to lowest point on the time-activity curve), and average secretion rate (Vmin) following acidic stimulation.

[RESULTS] Significant differences in MAR, UR, MSR, Vmin, and Tmin of the parotid and submandibular glands were observed between the SS group and the control group (P < 0.05). In the mild impairment group, significant differences were found in MSR, Tmin, and Vmin of the submandibular gland compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moderate and severe impairment groups exhibited significant differences in MAR, MSR, Tmin, UR, and Vmin of the parotid gland compared to the control group (P < 0.05).

[CONCLUSION] In SS patients, MAR, UR, MSR, Vmin, and Tmin are important indicators for evaluating salivary gland damage. The qualitative analysis of SPECT/CT salivary gland dynamic imaging and time-activity curves effectively assesses salivary gland function in SS patients, providing vital information for the development of clinical treatment strategies.