Parotid sialography and minor salivary gland biopsy in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. A comparative study of 84 patients.

Parotid sialography and labial salivary gland biopsy were performed in 84 patients with clinical features of primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Signs of focal sialoadenitis were found in 73/84 patients (87%), but only 37 (44%) scored 4 which is considered diagnostic for classic SS. In contrast 55/84 patients (66%) showed some sialographic abnormalities. In patients with both primary and secondary SS, hypergammaglobulinemia and anti-SSA antibodies appeared to be the serological variables more closely related to the entity of either sialographic or histologic abnormalities. In primary SS extraglandular manifestations and recurrent parotid swelling were significantly associated with parotid sialography and labial salivary gland biopsy changes, respectively. Our study indicates that currently both radiological and histological examination are necessary for the assessment of salivary gland involvement in SS.