LABIAL SALIVARY-GLAND BIOPSY IN LOFGREN S YNDROME AND SYSTEMIC SARCOIDOSIS

The diagnosis of sarcoidosis requires histopathological analysis. Easy accessible site of biopsy is seldom. A systematic labial salivary gla nd biopsy was performed in 62 suspected sarcoidosis: 22 patients with Lofgren syndrome (group I), and 40 patients with systemic sarcoidosis (group II). Systematic bronchial biopsy was performed in eight patient s of group I and ten patients of group II. If systematic biopsies were negative, direct biopsies were performed (lymph node, skin, kidney, l iver). In group I, 8/22 labial salivary gland biopsies and 1/8 bronchi al biopsies were positive: in group II, 17/40 labial salivary gland bi opsies and 5/10 bronchial biopsies were positive. In the other patient s, direct biopsies were positive: 27 lymph nodes, eight skin, eight he patic, four kidney biopsies. In conclusion, labial salivary gland biop sy (even in the absence of sicca syndrome) is more reliable than syste matic bronchial biopsies, particularly in Lofgren syndrome and may avo id in 30 to 50% of the cases more agressive and dangerous biopsies suc h as liver, kidney or deep lymph nodes biopsies.