Morphological alterations of salivary gland parenchyma in chronic sialadenitis
Matthews, T.W.; Dardick, I.
Journal of Otolaryngology 17(7): 385-394
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0381-6605 PMID: 3230613 Document Number: 318913
Ten cases of chronic nonspecific sialadenitis of the parotid and submandibular glands were studied by a combination of immunohistochemisty (to detect cytoplasmic filaments), morphometry, and electron microscopy in order to assess histological modifications that might reflect on the concepts for the induction of neoplasia in these glands. Histologically, the gradual atrophy of the glandular parenchyma results in the presence of many small ductules. Although structural alterations were apparent at all levels of the secretory/excretory glandular components, and in all types of cells, the fact that many such ductules resulted from gradual dedifferentiation of acinar cells was a major finding. The results suggest that the no-cell-type in salivary gland can be excluded as having a potential for neoplastic transformation and that the basis for the currently held reserve cell hypothesis is likely incorrect.