Three patients presented to the Sjögren's syndrome (SS) Clinic at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for screening. The records of patients with SS with a diagnosis of lymphoma were examined to determine whether the diagnosis was made in any of the cases as a result of labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsies. All patients had typical features of primary SS according to the American-European Consensus Group criteria. B cell mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was diagnosed based upon the LSG biopsy.
This report underlines the advantages of performing LSG biopsies as a routine part of screening for SS, and shows that it may in some instances lead to early diagnosis of MALT lymphomas in patients who show no signs of pre-existing lymphoma.