SIALOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF PATIENTS WITH SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Sialographic follow-up studies of 36 cases of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) were performed with the duration of 5-72 months (mean 25 months). Thre e groups mere divided according to the international criteria: seconda ry group, 14 cases (xerophthalmia, or / and xerostomia, and connective tissue dis eases), primary group, 14 cases (xerostomia and xerophthal mia), and possible group, 8 cases (xerophthalmia or xerosptomia only). Sialographic findings at follow-up examination included (I) delayed e vacuation, which may occur as early as 5 months later; (2) increased p unctate sialectasis; (3) decreased punctate sialectasis with globular increase; (4) punctate, globular, and cavity sialectasis with radioluc ent sialolith; and (5) centripetal atrophy, The cases with secondary a nd possible SS without xerostomia demonstrated little involvement of t he parotid gland, without sialectasis. But sialodochitis was shown whe n radiolucent sialolith formed. The stimulated whole salivary flow rat e (SWSFR) was closely related to sialographic appearance, i.e., the ca ses with lower value of SWSFR showed more siatectasis sialographically , but with higher SWSFR value, and less sialectasis. The relationship between the SS and pyogenic or candidal infection was discussed.