[Sarcoid granuloma of the accessory salivary glands. An anatomic study and anatomo-clinical correlations: apropos of 17 cases].

From 228 clinical files of cases with suspected sarcoidosis who had had a biopsy of the accessory salivary glands, 17 cases with both a final diagnosis of sarcoidosis and one or more tuberculoid granulomas. There were 12 women (mean age: 30 years) and 5 men (mean age: 28.5 years) including 3 of Caribbean or African descent. The histopathological examination was performed to determine: 1) the number of granulomas per biopsy, divided into 3 groups: group I, 1 granuloma (n = 1); group II, 2 to 5 granulomas, mean 3.5 (n = 6); group III more than 5 granulomas, mean 12.5 (n = 5); 2) the diffusion of the granulomas within the lobules: 17% of the lobules were involved in groups I and II vs 47% in group III; 3) the size of the granulomas "minimal" (barely identifiable in 3 of 6 patients in group I; rather easily identifiable in all the other patients; 4) the presence of "non-specific" lesions including lymphoid infiltration, epithelial changes. In addition correlations with other clinical parameters of severity and/or duration were evaluated including: involvement of the main salivary glands and/or non-secretory syndrome. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) lesions of the accessory salivary glands is a sign of sarcoid lesions outside the thorax since 16 of the 17 patients had extra-thoracic clinical, biological or anatomic manifestations; 2) there is not however any significant difference in clinical severity between the 3 anatomic "intensity" groups (number of follicules in the accessory salivary glands); 3) both cases of sarcoidosis of recent onset (< 3 months) with Loefgren's syndrome were in group I; 4) the intensity of the specific lesions in the accessory salivary glands was similar to that of the non-specific lesions and can be correlated with the intensity of the main salivary gland involvement, with or without a non-secretory syndrome.