Minor salivary gland evaluation: Sjögren’s syndrome

Abstract

Background/aim: We aimed to analyze the value of 3 serial sections, spaced 200 μm apart, for quantification of lymphocyte and plasma cell foci in minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB). Materials and methods: Labial MSGBs from 69 patients with Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) and scleroderma were used for this study. Each sample was prepared as 3 serial sections spaced 200 μm apart. Lymphocytic and plasma cell focus score (LFS, PFS) were determined for each section, and the diagnostic results were compared to those obtained from a single section. Results: For 22 of the 69 patients, all 3 sections were scored at <1 and interpreted as inconclusive for the presence of SS. For 20 cases, all 3 sections were scored at ≥1 and interpreted as diagnostic for SS. In the remaining 27 cases, the score was found to vary between sections. Plasma cell foci were observed in 11 cases, with 5 cases exhibiting a PFS of ≥1. Of those 5 cases, 4 also had a LFS of ≥1. Conclusion: Assessment of 3 serial sections in MSGB has the potential to improve accuracy of SS diagnosis by detecting specific features that may not have been detected in a single section. We concluded that data about the PFS require further evaluation.