Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2014 Sep;7(3):222-225. 10.3342/ceo.2014.7.3.222.

A Convenient and Less Invasive Technique of Labial Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Using a Minimal Incision With a Needle Tip

• Lee WY
• Choi YS
• Ahn SH
• Hah JH

• KMID: 1973474
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2014.7.3.222

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
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 Sjogren's syndrome.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who had the labial minor salivary gland biopsy for the diagnosis of Sjogren'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.
CONCLUSION
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 Sjogren's syndrome. So it might be a good alternative to the conventional incisional lip biopsy.

Keyword

Sjogren's syndrome; Lip; Minor salivary glands; Biopsy

MeSH Terms

Biopsy*
Diagnosis
Humans
Hypesthesia
Lip
Medical Records
Needles*
Retrospective Studies
Salivary Glands
Salivary Glands, Minor*
Sjogren's Syndrome

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A superficial vertical incision was made with a needle tip. Pressure was applied to the sides.

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  Fig. 2 Microscopic findings of the specimens from the two techniques (H&E, ×40). The specimen (A) from the biopsy using a minimal incision with a needle tip shows highly selective salivary gland tissues. The specimen (B) from the conventional incisional lip biopsy contains not only salivary glands but also epithelium, fatty tissues and muscles.

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