Diagnostic Value of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: Minor salivary gland biopsy is an adjunctive diagnostic method which is widely used and its diagnostic value is still controversial. It is mainly used in sarcoidosis and Sjögren’s Syndrome. This study aims to identify the contribution of histopathological diagnosis to clinical diagnosis and to supply information to literature. Methods: Minor salivary gland biopsy was carried out on the patients with early diagnosis of sarcoidosis or Sjögren’s Syndrome who were referred from the hospital clinics of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Faculty of Dentistry. 100 patients between the ages of 18-65 were performed lower lip MSGB, then patients were called, the questions were asked and the answers were evaluated. Results: The presence of dry mouth was statistically higher in patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome than histopathologically normal patient and sarcoidosis patients. In patients with Sjögren’s syndrome, the presence of dry eyes was found to be statistically significantly higher than the others. A statistically significant difference of clinical diagnosis distribution was observed between the patients with normal histopathological findings and patients with mild inflammation infiltration, granulomatous sialadenitis and lymphocytic sialadenitis. Conclusion: Minor salivary gland biopsy is an easy and trusted method for establishing sarcoidosis and Sjögren’s Syndrome diagnosis and follow-up. Studies reveal that as more knowledge about disease immunology is collected and more sensitive techniques for interpretation of saliva and other serological markers are developed, less invasive or noninvasive techniques will come into question. Contemporarily, it will continue to be one of the main diagnostic tests for adjunctive diagnostic of multisystemic chronic diseases.