Multimodal Elastography of the Main Salivary Glands—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Elastography has emerged as a valuable imaging technique that evaluates tissue stiffness and offers complementary insights into conventional ultrasonography. The aim of this article is to review the utility of elastography in assessing salivary gland pathologies. The review categorizes findings by pathology and the physical principles underlying each elastographic modality. Key modalities discussed include strain elastography, shear wave elastography, and novel hybrid techniques, such as viscoelastography, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and clinical applications in salivary gland imaging.