Unusual Oral Nodular Lesions in Patients With Sjögren's Syndrome

Abstract

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder affecting the lacrimal and salivary glands. It manifests as primary or secondary SS, the latter occurring in the context of another autoimmune disorder. In both cases, the dryness of the eyes and mouth affect patient quality of life. Late complications can include blindness, dental tissue destruction, oral candidiasis, and lymphoma. We report 2 cases of SS, each of which presented an unusual oral nodular lesion diagnosed as relapsed mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and mucocele, respectively. We emphasize the importance of having a dental health professional diagnose, treat, and manage oral lesions in patients with SS, because the oral manifestations of SS can compromise patient quality of life.