[Changes of the lip salivary glands in glossodynia. Histologic and morphometric analysis (author's transl)]

The minor salivary glands of the lower lips were analyzed histologically and morphometrically from biopsy specimens taken from 29 patients with glossodynia and 12 normal controls. The causes of glossodynia included Sjögrens syndrome [5], stomatological disorders such as diabetes mellitus, prosthesis allergy, etc. [5], psychiatric depressions [6], and idiopathic [13]. Using semi-thin tissue sections, the following results were obtained: 1. The control group had an average acinous area of 70.2%. This area was moderately reduced in the older patient. In patients with glossdynia, the acinous area was reduced to a mean value of 38.9%. Some severe cases showed values of 10% and less. 2. The area of duct structures was 9.3% in control tissues, and increased to 13.1% in patients with glossodynia. Values to 26% were rarely observed. 3. The interstitial tissue of the control group was inconspicuous and contained only few inflammatory cells. In glossodynia, the reduction of glandular acini could be positively correlated with the proliferation of the connective tissue and to stromal infiltration by lymphocytes and plasma cells. In diffuse lymphocytic sialadenitis, the mean value of the acinous area was 46%. An additional focal lymphocytic infiltration resulted in a further reduction to 27.3%. 4. The most severe cases of sialadenitis were found in glossodynia associated with Sjögren's syndrome. As such, the lip biopsy was found to be a useful method for diagnosis of the syndrome.