Minor salivary gland swelling in patient with Sjögren's syndrome

A case of Sjögren's syndrome with an unusual minor salivary gland swelling is reported. The patient was a 63-year-old female with a chief complaint of palatal swelling and dry mouth. Clinical examination revealed diffuse swelling of the hard palate and bilateral parotid regions, and sialographic examination of the parotid gland showed evidence of sialoangiectasia. Histopathological findings of the palatal and parotid lesions revealed intense lymphoid cell infiltration replacing the salivary gland parenchyma, and scattered epimyoepithelial islands throughout the lesions. Although it is well known that major salivary gland swelling caused by marked lymphoid cell infiltration is one of the common features in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, a similar swelling in the region of the minor salivary glands is not usually apparent.