Tubarial gland involvement in IgG4-related diseases.

BACKGROUND

Tubarial glands (TGs) are a collection of unidentified salivary glands overlying the torus tubarius in the nasopharyngeal wall. Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic fibroinflammatory state that often has multiple organ involvement. Involvement of the head and neck, especially the salivary glands, is common in IgG4-RD.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of TGs in IgG4-RD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated the local findings of TGs in ten patients with IgG4-RD.

RESULTS

Nasopharyngeal endoscopic examination revealed oedematous swelling of the nasopharyngeal wall surrounding the TGs, which improved after steroid treatment. Moreover, sonotubometry showed a stenotic pattern in three out of seven patients with IgG4-RD.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

TGs may be involved in IgG4-RD. The swollen TGs may be responsible for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction. Further studies are required to clarify the clinical significance and physiological roles of TGs in IgG4-RD.