Aplicabilidade da ultrassonografia no diagnóstico de doenças inflamatórias e obstrutivas das glândulas salivares maiores: revisão de escopo

Abstract

Alterations in major salivary glands (GSM) occur in adults or children. Acute or chronic sialoadenitis are inflammatory alterations associated or not with infections. Sialolithiasis is characterized by the presence of calcifications (sialoliths) in the ducts or glandular parenchyma. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) can detect sialoliths, but they have limitations related to the grade of mineralization or for the characterization of some alterations in soft tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects alterations in GSM and mineralized or not mineralized sialoliths, but it has a high cost and low availability that make its use in routine care unfeasible. Ultrasonography (US) is a viable alternative exam for evaluating GSMs, due to its low cost, easy real-time image acquisition, good resolution, and no use of ionizing radiation. The objective of this scope review was to verify the applicability of US in detecting alterations in GSMs affected by sialoadenitis or sialolithiasis. A search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and SCOPUS, which resulted in the selection of 2277 references. After reading the titles and abstracts, 92 articles met the eligibility criteria for this review. Data on authors, publication date, type of study, condition/alteration/pathology evaluated, GSM, diagnostic value of US, ultrasound characteristics of the lesions, clinical data and additional information were collected. US could detect alterations in GSM, with the exception of the deep parotid lobe. Color Doppler allowed us to assess the vascularization pattern of altered tissues, helping to establish differential diagnoses. Single or multiple sialoliths larger than 2 mm were well detected, including non-mineralized mucus plugs. Sialoliths smaller than 1 mm were better visualized using the sonopalpation technique and administration of ascorbic acid or lemon juice. Glandular alterations caused by acute or chronic sialoadenitis were visualized through US. The association between ultrasound characteristics and clinical data was useful in establishing differential diagnoses. Ultrasonography was considered the method of choice for the initial assessment of alterations in GSM, both in adults and children.