Salivary Gland Scintigraphy in Patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome: A local Experience with Dualtracer

Objective(s): To review the findings of the patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) having technetium99mpertechnetate (99mTcpertechnetate) and gallium67 citrate (Ga67) salivary gland scintigraphy in the past eight years.Methods: The patients with SS, who were referred to our department for salivary gland scintigraphy during January 2008December 2015 were studied using both 99mTcpertechnetate and Ga67 citrate scintigraphy.Results: Eighteen patients were included in the study, 17 of whom had positive findings on 99mTc pertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy. One patient had negative parotid glands findings on 99mTcpertechnetate, but positive findings in Ga67 study. Four patients had asymmetric involvement of the parotid glands, and one patient had asymmetric involvement of the submandibular glands in 99mTcpertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy. On the other hand, one patient had only submandibular gland involvement in the 99mTcpertechnetate scan.Nine patients (9/18) had positive parotid gland findings on Ga67 study. The involvements of the parotid glands were all symmetrical, except for one patient. No abnormal gallium uptake in the submandibular glands in our patients was noted.Conclusion: 99mTcpertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy is sufficient for the assessment in the majority of patients with SS. Ga67 scintigraphy may be a useful supplementary test, especially if the result of 99mTcpertechnetate scintigraphy is not conclusive.