HISTOPATHOLOGY OF LABIAL SALIVARY GLANDS IN SJOGREN’S SYNDROME

The histopathology of labial salivary glands of 20 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome was examined and compared with other clinical findings. All patients were women and their age ranged from 28 to 73. The diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms of dry mouth and dry eyes, and frequently rheumatoid arthritis. Sialography of the parotid gland was undertaken on 19 patients and showed characteristic sialectasis in 13 cases. Schirmer’s test and Rose-Bengal staining were all positive. Waaler-Rose and latex fixation tests were used for the demonstration of rheumatoid factor and 15 cases were assumed to have rheumatoid arthritis. The biopsy from labial salivary glands showed a variety of histopathologic appearances. The primary changes appeared to be periductal infiltration of lymphoid cells and dilatation of the ducts. As the lymphocytic infiltration increased in the glandular tissue, the secretary cells were beginning to disappear and the ducts became more prominent. Finally, the characteristic histopathological features of Sjögren’s syndrome, germinal center and epimyoepithelial island, were found in 6 cases. Results of examination on these cases suggested that the histopathology of the labial salivary glands would be a valuable diagnostic aid, if the results are considered with other clinical manifestations