Abstract
Pain in the bilateral lower molar regions and xerostomia with painless swelling and induration of the minor salivary glands on the lower lip and anterior tongue were reported in the case of a schizophrenic woman.
In two months' follow-up under conservative treatment, no improvement in the symptoms was observed in the either gland. A biopsy of the lower lip was then performed, revealing interstitial fibrosis with acinar atrophy, and relatively localized periductal lymphocytes infiltration compatible with Sjogren syndrome in the histopathological examination. The diagnosis of Sjogren syndrome was, however, rejected by some seroimmunological and immunological stainings.
The swelling of the above minor salivary glands had decreased half a year after the biopsy. In spite of the reduced amount of mixed salivary excretion in the gum-test, the complaints of pain and xerostomia had also disappeared spontaneously. Such subclinical inflammation might be related to the symptom of transient, painless swelling of the minor salivary glands.
