A DIAGNOSTIC AND ETIOLOGIC STUDIES OF SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME

I. SIALOGRAPHICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS OF THE MAJOR AND MINOR SALIVARY GLANDS

Abstract

This work was an attempt to elucidate the diagnostic evaluation of sialogram and histopathological examination of the salivary gland in Sjögren's syndrome. The author investigated the correlation of the sialographical and histopathological features of the salivary gland in 89 confirmed cases of Sjögren's syndrome and 26 suspected cases, a total of 115 subjects and the following results were obtained.
1) In determining the histopathological severity of the salivary gland lesions from sialogram, the parotid sialogram was more useful than the submaxillary sialogram.
2) The severity of parotid sialogram correlated well that of labial gland histopathology.
3) Biopsy of the labial gland was useful for histopathological diagnosis on Sjögren's syndrome but the histopathological change occured to a greater degree in the submaxillary gland than in the labial gland.
4) From above results, in histopathological examination of severe case of Sjögren's syndrome, biopsy of the labial gland will be sufficient, but biopsy of the submaxillary gland must be employed for studying mild cases.