Evaluation of histopathological results of minor salivary gland biopsies in patients with the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome

Gamze Erkılınç1, Atalay Doğru2, Yaşar Arslan1, Rıza Burak Öz3, Nermin Karahan1, Mehmet Şahin2, İbrahim Metin Çiriş1

1Department of Pathology, Süleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey
2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Süleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey
3Departmant of Internal Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey

Keywords: Histopathology, minor salivary gland, Sjögren’s syndrome.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate which of the histomorphological criteria defined in labial salivary gland biopsy are more valuable in diagnosing Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and to examine its correlation with clinical and laboratory findings.

Patients and methods: Between January 2005 and January 2019, a total of 927 patients (104 males, 823 females; mean age: 51 years; range, 19 to 85 years) who underwent minor salivary gland biopsies with the suspicion of SS were retrospectively analyzed. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2016 classification criteria were used for the classification of SS. We evaluated salivary gland biopsies histomorphologically for the presence and number of lymphocytic focus, as well as chronicity findings (acinar atrophy, ductal dilatation, fibrosis), the presence of lymphocytic infiltration, distribution, localization, ectopic germinal center, and mast cell count. The presence of accompanying diseases, clinical and laboratory findings including age, sex, the presence of dry eye and mouth, and autoantibodies for discriminating SS were noted. Histomorphologically, salivary gland biopsy which fulfilled the adequacy criteria for glandular tissue were compared with the other criteria used to diagnose SS.

Results: Strong chronicity and diffuse lymphocytic infiltration were significantly higher in the SS group compared to the non-SS group (p<0.001). Lymphocytic focus score >1 was significantly higher in the SS group compared to the non-SS group (p<0.001). Strong chronicity, acinar atrophy, andductal dilatation were significantly higher in the SS group compared to the non-SS group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: More than one lymphocytic focus is the most valuable finding in diagnosing SS. However, it should be kept in mind that, in cases of SS, ductal dilatation, acinar atrophy, and chronicity may be present without lymphocytic infiltration.

Citation: Erkılınç G, Doğru A, Arslan Y, Öz RB, Karahan N, Şahin M, et al. Evaluation of histopathological results of minor salivary gland biopsies in patients with the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome. Arch Rheumatol 2022;37(1):49-58.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.