HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE LABIAL SALIVARY GLANDS IN PATIENTS WITH SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME PART I: LIGHT MICROSCOPIC STUDY

Labial salivary gland biopsy specimens from 111 patients evaluated for Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) were examined histopathologically with particular attention to the degree of lymphoid cell infiltration with or without the formation of epimyoepithelial islands, fibrosis and atrophy with fatty replacement. These cases were divided into groups, and the histological findings were compared. In definite cases, “positive” findings of more than one focus of lymphoid cells per lobule were seen in about 80%, this value closely coinciding with the reports in Europe and America. Epimyoepithelial islands and hyaline like substance were also found in the cases with severe lymphoid cell infiltration. Cases of probable SjS, connective tissue disease and some other conditions showed lymphoid cell infiltration to a lesser degree. It seems likely that fibrosis and atrophy with fatty replacement are not closely related to SjS. In several cases of definite SjS, labial salivary gland examinations after more than a one year interval were perform ed on two occasions, and the clinical and histopathologic al changes were investigated