title: A convenient and less invasive technique of labial minor salivary gland biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to show the technique and to compare the usefulness and complications of biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip of the labial minor salivary glands with those of conventional incisional lip biopsy in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who had the labial minor salivary gland biopsy for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome between January 2005 and December 2008. One hundred forty-three patients were enrolled in this study. The yields of diagnostic salivary tissues and complications of the biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip and the conventional incisional lip biopsy were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 143 patients, 56 patients underwent the conventional incisional lip biopsy and 87 patients received the biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip. In the biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip group, adequate salivary gland tissues were obtained in 85 patients out of 87 patients (97.7%). In the conventional incisional lip biopsy group, adequate specimens were acquired in 44 patients out of 56 patients (78.6%). There was no complication after the biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip, whereas there was one patient complained transient numbness of the lip after the conventional incisional lip biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The less invasive labial minor salivary gland biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip was easy to perform and safe and showed the better result than the conventional incisional lip biopsy in terms of the adequate specimen in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. So it might be a good alternative to the conventional incisional lip biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hah
keywords: Biopsy; Lip; Minor salivary glands; Sjogren's syndrome