Focal lymphocytic infiltration in aging human palatal salivary glands: a comparative study with labial salivary glands

Investigation of age-related prevalence of various types of focal lymphocyt ic infiltration (FLI) and degrees of histomorphologic changes was conducted on 120 biopsies of palatal and labial salivary glands (PSG and LSG, respec tively) obtained from autopsy subjects free of salivary gland tumors/diseas es. Biopsies were divided into young (<30 years, n=30), adult (30-60 years, n=45) and old (>60 years, n=45) age groups. A modified Chisholm & Mason gr ading system was used to record grades of FLI and a modified Greenspan et a t. system was used to evaluate the severity of histomorphologic changes. Th e prevalence of FLI in PSG increased significantly from 10% in the young gr oup to 46.6% in the old group (P=0.0012). No significant changes were found with aging in LSG. nl was significantly more prevalent in the adult and ol d age groups in PSG as compared with LSG (P=0.015 and P=0.003, respectively ). Both glands demonstrated significant histomorphologic changes among age groups (p<0.0001); however, these changes were significantly less common in the old age group in PSG as compared to LSG (P=0.003). In cases showing se vere histomorphologic changes, FLI was not present. Therefore, FLI should n ot be considered as part of the deteriorating histomorphologic changes that are usually encountered in salivary glands with aging. The immunologic pro file of these infiltrates should be further clarified to understand their r ole, both in physiologic and pathologic conditions.