The stiff elastographic change of submandibular glands rapidly improves after the introduction of glucocorticoid treatment in patients with IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis

Abstract

In three patients with immunoglobulin G4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis (IgG4-DS), we assessed the changes in the hardness of affected submandibular glands by the real-time tissue elastography at baseline and 2 weeks after the initiation of treatment with oral glucocorticoids. Elastography revealed “blue” meaning to be a hard tissue matched the hypoechoic areas inside the enlarged submandibular glands before treatment. The stiff elastographic changes rapidly improved after 2 weeks. This may relate with the reversibility of salivary function by glucocorticoid treatment in patients with IgG4-DS.

Keywords:

• Elastography
• Glucocorticoid
• IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis

Acknowledgments

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors report that there is no funding related to this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.