Lymphoepithelial lesion and Sjögren's syndrome

The lymphoepithelial lesion of salivary glands, which begins with a focal, periductal lymphoreticular reaction and progresses to partial or total replacement of functioning acinar parenchyma, is associated with several clinical disorders. The lesion may be solely a salivary gland disease without systemic manifestations or may be a tissue manifestation of autoimmune disease--primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome. Besides its own morbidity, the lesion is associated with the development of lymphomas.