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Background: Ultrasound (US) can detect salivary gland abnormalities in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). This study aimed to compare the correlation among the semiquantitative US scores, texture features, and the quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) results. Methods: This retrospective study included 11 patients who were diagnosed with primary SS and underwent US examinations of the parotid glands and SGS simultaneously. We evaluated SGS quantitatively based on the calculation of maximum accumulation ratio (MAR) and stimulated excretion fraction (EF). The US findings were accessed through the semiquantitative Outcome Measures in Rheumatology scoring system and by gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture analysis. Spearman's rank correlation tests were performed. Results: A significant moderate negative correlation was noted between the semiquantitative US score and MAR (rho = −0.57, P = 0.006), but not with EF (rho = −0.11, P = 0.613). The GLCM texture metrics, including contrast, dissimilarity, and homogeneity, were all determined to be significantly associated with both MAR and EF. The GLCM contrast correlated moderately to MAR (rho = −0.66, P = 0.001). The GLCM homogeneity highly correlated to EF (rho = 0.74, P < 0.001). The contrast and homogeneity can still discriminate the changes in MAR and EF in the subgroups with the same semiquantitative US scores. Conclusion: US findings on parotid gland can correlate with SGS results when analyzed based on GLCM texture features. With the GLCM texture metrics, US appears to be an excellent imaging tool for the assessment of the parotid glands in primary SS patients.

If a patient has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and enthesitis, he/she can be classified as having peripheral spondyloarthritis according to criteria set by the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society. In Taiwan, IBD patients visiting outpatient clinics can present without joint symptoms, so the prevalence of these musculoskeletal manifestations may be underestimated. We conducted this study to evaluate enthesitis by ultrasonography (US) in IBD patients, and compared these data with healthy controls (HCs). Materials and methods: Fourteen IBD patients and 14 HCs underwent independent clinical and ultrasonographic examination of both legs at five entheseal sites. The Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System (GUESS) was used to assess the degree of enthesitis in the two groups. The total score of enthesitis was calculated on the basis of US findings. All US examinations were undertaken by an experienced rheumatologist blinded to clinical and laboratory findings. Results: Two hundred and eighty entheses in 14 patients and 14 HCs were examined by US, which revealed 42/140 (30%) and 21/140 (15%) abnormal entheseal sites in patients and controls, respectively. The GUESS score was significantly higher in IBD patients than in HCs (p