The role of parotid biopsy in the diagnosis of pediatric Sjögren syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To describe our experience with primary and secondary Sjögren syndrome (SS) in the pediatric population and to evaluate the effectiveness of parotid gland biopsy in the diagnosis of pediatric SS.


METHODS
Case series review of 6 pediatric patients evaluated during a 4-year period with varied head and neck manifestations of SS.


METHODS
Tertiary care children's hospital.


METHODS
Six children (4 boys and 2 girls) ranging in age from 6 to 12 years, who were diagnosed as having primary or secondary SS.


METHODS
Six minor salivary gland and 4 parotid gland biopsies for pathologic examination.


METHODS
Pathologic examination of salivary tissue consistent with SS.


RESULTS
All 6 patients underwent minor salivary gland biopsy, 2 (33%) were consistent with SS, while the remaining 4 (67%) were nondiagnostic. The 4 patients with nondiagnostic minor salivary gland biopsy results went on to have parotid biopsies, of which all 4 had histologic findings consistent with SS. No complications were encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
Parotid gland biopsy is an effective and safe means of obtaining salivary gland tissue for histologic evaluation of SS in the pediatric population.
McGuirt
William F
WF
Department of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1034, USA.
Whang
Chris
C
Moreland
Wendy
W
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology