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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Salivary Glands for Sjogren's Syndrome: Diagnostic and Monitoring Insights
Published on: October 13, 2023
Focal sialadenitis in patients with early synovitis
M T Brennan1, S R Pillemer, R Goldbach-Mansky
1Clinical Research Core, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. mbrennan@carolinashealthcare.org
Objective:
To investigate the frequency of sialadenitis on lip biopsy in patients with synovitis of recent onset (ES), and see how sialadenitis relates to clinical and laborator findings of ES.
Methods:
Joint involvement, laboratory measures and biopsies of the minor salivary glands were evaluated in 10 ES patients. Diagnosis at a one-year follow-up exam was noted.
Results:
Six ES patients (60%) had a positive lip biopsy (mononuclear cell focus score greater than 1). ES patients with a positive lip biopsy presented with oligoarthritis, while ES patients with a negative lip biopsy had a more polyarticular presentation. No differences in laboratory measures between patients with a positive and negative lip biopsy were present. Seven ES patients had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and three had undifferentiated arthritis at the end of one year.
Conclusion:
ES patients had a higher than expected frequency offocal sialadenitis.
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