Journal of Ultrasound最新文献

{"title":"How POCUS uncovered Alagille syndrome in a non-mobile infant with bruising: a case report.","authors":"David J McCreary, Adriana Nedyalkova, Jonathan Bennett","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01154-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01154-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A bruise or haematoma in a non-mobile infant is a red flag prompting concern for non-accidental injury. Bruising does not always signify trauma however and may occur spontaneously due to an underlying medical cause. This case report describes a 3-month-old infant presenting with unexplained faint bruising to the axilla and an associated lump. Point of care ultrasound revealed a chest wall haematoma without any other evidence of trauma prompting blood tests, which demonstrated severely deranged coagulation and conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. The child was subsequently diagnosed with Alagille Syndrome. Point of care ultrasound is a useful clinical adjunct for providing greater detail to the examination of unusual lumps or swellings which in this case prompted further investigations leading to a rare diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early volume reduction slope as a novel predictor of long-term outcomes following microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules: a machine learning-enhanced prediction model.","authors":"XueJing Zhang, MingFeng Mao, Xin Jia Liu, Ling Lin","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01155-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01155-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model incorporating early VRR slope kinetics to predict long-term treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 78 patients with benign thyroid nodules treated with microwave ablation. VRR was measured at 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-ablation. Treatment success was defined as 12-month VRR ≥ 90%. Three slope parameters were calculated: K1 (0-3 months, %/month), K2 (3-6 months), and K3 (6-12 months). Machine learning algorithms (LASSO, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine) were employed for feature selection from baseline characteristics, contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters, and ablation parameters. Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop the final predictive model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 38.5% of 78 patients achieved treatment success. VRR demonstrated progressive increase from 72.2 ± 5.5% (3 months) to 85.4 ± 8.5% (12 months), with decelerating slopes (K1: 0.241 ± 0.018, K2: 0.022 ± 0.014, K3: 0.011 ± 0.006). K1 showed a moderate positive correlation with 12-month VRR (R = 0.420, P < 0.001) and was a predictor of treatment success (AUC = 0.685). Machine learning identified multiple features, with 5 features (enhancement slope, FT4, K1, maximum diameter, TG) consistently selected by all three algorithms. The final logistic regression model incorporating 5 consensus features achieved an AUC of 0.908 (95% CI 0.845-0.971). Internal validation confirmed model robustness (tenfold cross-validation AUC = 0.873; bootstrap AUC = 0.881).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The early slope parameter K1 is a predictor of long-term ablation outcomes. Integration of early response kinetics with baseline characteristics substantially improves prediction accuracy, potentially guiding personalized treatment strategies and early intervention decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic structure and function before and after orthotopic liver transplantation in MNGIE.","authors":"A Bianchini, E Boschetti, G Vitale, A Adamo, E Prosperi, A Siniscalchi","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01158-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01158-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an ultra-rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by thymidine phosphorylase (TP) deficiency, leading to systemic nucleoside accumulation and multisystemic dysfunction. While respiratory failure is not a primary feature, severe cachexia, sarcopenia, and respiratory muscle weakness may contribute to morbidity, particularly during acute illnesses. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has emerged as a disease-modifying therapy, restoring TP activity and normalizing circulating nucleosides, though its impact on respiratory muscle function remains largely unexplored. Diaphragmatic ultrasound offers a noninvasive tool to monitor respiratory muscle structure and function longitudinally.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>We report a 27 year-old male with genetically confirmed MNGIE who underwent OLT while severely cachectic (BMI 13.4 kg/m²). Pre-transplant diaphragmatic ultrasound demonstrated severe atrophy (thickness 1 mm) and dysfunction (thickening fraction < 10%). Seven years after OLT, diaphragmatic trophism and contractility had markedly improved (thickness 2.3 mm; thickening fraction 31%), whereas peripheral skeletal muscle recovery remained limited. During a subsequent septic episode, the patient required only brief mechanical ventilation, reflecting enhanced respiratory resilience.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Orthotopic liver transplantation provides sustained metabolic correction in MNGIE, facilitating significant recovery of diaphragmatic structure and function, even in patients with advanced disease. Diaphragmatic ultrasound proved invaluable for the noninvasive assessment of respiratory muscle trophism and contractility, guiding ventilatory management and long-term follow-up. Importantly, this case demonstrates a dissociation between peripheral and diaphragmatic muscle recovery, suggesting differential responsiveness to post-transplant metabolic normalization. These results underscore the potential of diaphragmatic ultrasound as a sensitive functional biomarker in MNGIE, although larger studies are warranted to establish its prognostic and clinical relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of super-resolution ultrasound in preoperative assessment of axillary low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma: a case report.","authors":"Xiaohan Zhao, Zhengmiao Wang, Yixuan Zhao","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01133-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01133-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare soft tissue malignancy with non-specific imaging features. We present a case of a 57-year-old woman with a right axillary mass to highlight the diagnostic value of advanced ultrasound techniques. Conventional ultrasound showed an irregular, vascularized hypoechoic mass. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) revealed early centripetal hyperenhancement and rapid washout, suggesting malignancy. Super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) further characterized the lesion's disorganized microvascular architecture, providing insights beyond conventional imaging. The diagnosis was confirmed pathologically. This case underscores how integrating CEUS and SR-US aids preoperative assessment of LGFMS by delineating tumor vascular patterns unavailable through standard imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147823492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of lung ultrasound focusing on posterior zones in prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Marwa Mohamed Farag, Hesham Abd El-Rahim Ghazal, Mohamed Hazem Wagih Gouda, Ahmed Abd El Halim Khedr","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01147-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01147-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lung ultrasound could be useful tool in prediction and management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the extended lung ultrasound (eLUS) score and posterior zone assessment in predicting BPD.</p><p><strong>Setting and design: </strong>Prospective cohort study held at the Neonatal-Intensive-Care Unit of Alexandria-University-Maternity-Hospital between November-2024 and May-2025.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 100 neonates with gestational age < 32 weeks, still requiring respiratory support on day-7, had regular LUS on days 7, 14, and 28 postnatally. They were categorized into two groups: BPD and non-BPD. A comparative analysis was performed between the groups. The predictive power of LUS for BPD development at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age was evaluated by ROC curve analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean (SD) gestational age for the entire group was 29.52 ± 1.05 weeks. Infants who developed BPD exhibited statistically higher eLUS scores on both day-7 and day-14 afterbirth (P < 0.001). A day-7 eLUS and posterior zones score cutoff of more than 13 and more than 4 points, respectively, predicted BPD with a sensitivity of 97% and 97.1% and a specificity of 92% and 89.39%. The eLUS score on day-7 exhibited a strong correlation with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) on day-7, the duration of IMV, and oxygen saturation index.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both eLUS score and posterior zones at day-7 strongly predicts BPD in preterm-infants. Evaluating posterior lung zones appears crucial for improving LUS diagnostic accuracy. LUS scores increased with increasing BPD severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147823430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasonographic evaluation of major salivary glands in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.","authors":"Zeynep Tanrıseven, Seval Bayrak","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01152-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01152-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Type 2 diabetes causes changes in the structure and functions of the major salivary glands. The aim of this study is to evaluate the dimensional measurements, echogenicity, and fractal dimension (FD) of bilateral major salivary glands in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on ultrasonography (US) and compare them with healthy individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included US images of 36 patients with type 2 DM and 36 healthy individuals. The superoinferior (SI), anteroposterior (AP), and mediolateral (ML) dimensions of the major salivary glands were measured, echogenicity was classified, and FD was calculated. Dimensional measurements, FD, and echogenicity comparisons between groups were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dimensions of SI, AP, and ML were found statistically higher in the patient group than in the control group (p < 0.05). In the parotid gland, the isoechoic type was significantly more common in the patient group (p < 0.05). Although no statistically significant relationship was observed, in the submandibular and sublingual glands, isoechoic type was more frequent in the patient group. FD values were found to be higher in the patient group compared with the control group for all glands and a statistically significant relationship was observed in the sublingual gland (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Type 2 DM is a disease that changes the salivary gland structure, but to confirm these results, new studies are needed in which disease severity/HbA1c levels, drug doses and disease duration are known and can be associated with clinical data.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147788870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A prospective observational study of the efficacy of endometrial polypectomy by an outpatient transabdominal ultrasound-guided technique in comparison to hysteroscopic removal.","authors":"Mohammad Firdose Banu Shaik, Sirisha Rao Gundabattula, Vijaya Bharathi Bayyarapu, Pranuthi Rangaram","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01150-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01150-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To compare a novel office procedure for removal of endometrial polyps with inpatient hysteroscopic polypectomy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective observational study carried out at a tertiary care center in India. Women undergoing endometrial polypectomy for various indications such as abnormal uterine bleeding; infertility; asymptomatic polyps in postmenopausal women with risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia or cancer were recruited. In group 1, polypectomy was done under transabdominal ultrasound guidance in the outpatient clinic. The women in group 2 had an inpatient hysteroscopic polypectomy under anesthesia. The choice of treatment was decided by the primary physician caring for the patient and the investigator did not have any role in patient selection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Complete retrieval of the polyp from the endometrial cavity was the primary outcome. This was accomplished in 34/36 (94.4%) and 36/36 (100%) of women in groups 1 and 2 respectively. The median procedure duration was 15 (IQR 12.5-22.5) and 30.5 (IQR 21-36.5) minutes in groups 1 and 2 respectively; p value < 0.001. The median visual analogue pain score was 3 (IQR 2-3) and 2 (IQR 1-2) in groups 1 and 2 respectively; p value < 0.001. In group 2, this was assessed at 6 h post procedure.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ultrasound-guided endometrial polypectomy may be a safe and cost-effective alternative to hysteroscopic polypectomy and is not inferior to the latter in terms of technical success.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Calcifications of the lateral and medial collateral ligament of the knee successfully treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous fragmentation and lavage: a report of two cases.","authors":"Federico Ponti, Silvia Gazzotti, Matteo Laruccia, Marco Miceli, Alberto Bazzocchi, Paolo Spinnato","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01148-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01148-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Calcifications of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the knee are uncommon and potentially under-recognized entities. Only a limited number of cases have been published to date and their management is still not adequately standardized. Conservative options are typically proposed first, but refractory cases may require interventional/surgical procedures. We report the cases of two elderly women presenting with progressive knee pain and functional limitation, in whom calcifications of the LCL and MCL were diagnosed based on ultrasound, plain radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging. After failure of medical therapy, both patients were managed with ultrasound-guided percutaneous fragmentation and lavage using a double needle approach similar to the one employed for rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, leading to rapid and complete relief of symptoms. Although further evidence is required, this treatment could represent a promising and minimally invasive alternative in the management of these infrequent conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasound diagnosis of an inguinal meshoma complicated by cutaneous fistula: a case report.","authors":"Giulio Cocco, Antonio Corvino, Vincenzo Ricci, Claudio Ucciferri, Andrea Delli Pizzi, Massimo Caulo, Corrado Caiazzo","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01149-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01149-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The development of a meshoma, resulting from excessive contraction and folding of a prosthetic mesh after inguinal hernia repair, represents a rare but clinically relevant complication. Sometimes, a sinus tract or cutaneous fistula may also develop as a result of a local infection. Early diagnosis is often challenging due to a poorly specific clinical presentation that makes point-of-care ultrasound imaging pivotal for a prompt assessment. A 46-year-old man presented with fever and recurrent left groin pain several years after open inguinal hernia repair with a plug-and-patch technique. A hyperechoic folded structure with posterior acoustic shadowing, consistent with a meshoma, surrounded by hypoechoic inflammatory changes of the soft tissues, was identified on ultrasound examination. Additionally, a thin hypoechoic linear tract extending from the meshoma to the skin surface was also identified, consistent with a cutaneous fistula. Despite partial clinical improvement with systemic antibiotic therapy, due to the persistent painful local mass, a surgical exploration was performed, confirming an infected meshoma with cutaneous fistulization. Complete removal of the prosthetic material led to full clinical resolution, with no recurrence during follow-up.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Meshoma is an uncommon but potentially severe late complication of inguinal hernia repair. Ultrasound represents a valuable first-line imaging modality, allowing direct visualization of mesh folding and associated fistulous tracts and facilitating prompt surgical management.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Salivary gland ultrasonographic abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus versus rheumatoid arthritis: a comparative cross-sectional study using OMERACT scoring.","authors":"Adel Ibrahim Azzam, Mohamed Abada Abdelbary Elawa, Moustafa Ahmed Eldahan","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01143-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01143-x","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;To compare the prevalence and patterns of salivary gland ultrasonographic (SGUS) abnormalities in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using the OMERACT scoring system, and to investigate their associations with clinical manifestations, serological markers, and patient-reported dryness.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This cross-sectional study enrolled 70 patients (35 SLE fulfilling ACR/EULAR 2019 criteria; 35 RA fulfilling ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) and 30 healthy controls. Primary outcome was SGUS positivity rate (OMERACT score ≥ 2 in any gland or ≥ 4 total). Secondary outcomes included individual gland grading, Power Doppler signals, and ESSPRI dryness burden. Participants underwent comprehensive assessment including disease activity scores (SLEDAI-2K for SLE, DAS28-ESR for RA), anti-Ro/anti-La antibodies, and bilateral salivary gland ultrasonography. Intra-observer reliability was assessed on 15% of scans (ICC = 0.89). Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, disease duration, and CRP. Primary outcome significance was set at p &lt; 0.05; secondary outcomes were interpreted with correction for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni-adjusted threshold, p &lt; 0.007).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;SLE patients were younger (33.08 ± 10.84 vs 43.82 ± 8.95 years, p = 0.001) with numerically shorter disease duration (6.72 ± 7.25 vs 10.58 ± 9.28 years, p = 0.056). Unadjusted SGUS positivity was similar (SLE 62.8% vs RA 57.1%, p = 0.62), both exceeding controls (13.3%, p &lt; 0.001). After adjusting for age, disease duration, and CRP, the association remained non-significant (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 0.48-3.31, p = 0.64). Submandibular glands showed preferential involvement (Grade ≥ 1: left SMG 97.1% SLE, 85.7% RA). Power Doppler signals were more prevalent in SLE left SMG (77.1% vs 57.2%, p = 0.02), however this did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. RA patients reported higher dryness scores (7.0 ± 1.83 vs 5.68 ± 1.92, p = 0.001) despite comparable structural findings. Anti-Ro/anti-La antibodies did not correlate with SGUS positivity in either group. SGUS showed no consistent correlation with disease activity measures and demonstrated moderate discriminative ability for ESSPRI-defined dryness ≥ 5 (AUC = 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;SLE and RA patients exhibit comparable rates of salivary gland structural abnormalities independent of age, disease duration, and systemic inflammation. The discordance between ultrasonographic findings and patient-reported dryness, along with the lack of association with anti-Ro/anti-La antibodies, suggests heterogeneity in mechanisms of glandular involvement. SGUS provides objective assessment of glandular structure but should be interpreted alongside clinical evaluation and objective measures of gland function. Longitudinal studies incorporating objective salivary flow assessment are needed to cl","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}