Focal adenitis in lacrimal and salivary glands. A post-mortem study

In the present study the submandibular, labial, and lacrimal glands of 102 postmortem subjects were studied as to the presence of inflammatory foci, fibrosis, atrophy and fatty change. Focal lymphocytic infiltration of these glands with focus scores exceeding 1, one of the findings on which the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome is based, was found in 19 cases (18.6%). Fibrosis, atrophy, and fatty change occurred most often in the labial salivary glands of patients over 50 years of age with or without high focus scores. Fibrosis, atrophy and fat infiltration hardly ever occurred in the lacrimal glands although this was the type of gland in which high focus scores occurred most often. The findings suggest that a wider than hitherto recognized spectrum of systemic inflammatory diseases may contribute to lymphocytic adenitis and degeneration of the exocrine glands. The diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome should be confirmed by additional diagnostic tests.