Anorexia/bulimia-related sialadenosis of palatal minor salivary glands

J Oral Pathol Med. 2004 Aug;33(7):441-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2004.00208.x.

Abstract

In patients affected by alimentary disorders sialadenosis is frequently observed. This non-inflammatory condition is described to affect major salivary glands, leading to the characteristic parotid and/or submandibular swelling. Thus fine-needle aspiration cytology or parotid open biopsy are generally required to diagnose histologically the disorder. We report the case of a 28-year-old patient affected by bulimia/anorexia nervosa who presented, in addition to parotid enlargement, a bilateral symmetric painless soft swelling of the hard palate. The lesion was biopsied and histopathological examination showed the classical features of sialadenosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of sialadenosis affecting palatal minor salivary glands. It underlines that when sialadenosis is clinically suspected, clinicians could check also patients' oral cavity for minor salivary glands involvement, in order to potentially avoid invasive extra-oral procedures and to easily confirm diagnosis with an intra-oral biopsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anorexia Nervosa / complications*
  • Bulimia / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Muscarinic Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Palate, Hard / pathology
  • Parotid Diseases / diagnosis
  • Parotid Diseases / drug therapy
  • Parotid Diseases / etiology
  • Pilocarpine / therapeutic use
  • Salivary Gland Diseases / diagnosis
  • Salivary Gland Diseases / drug therapy
  • Salivary Gland Diseases / etiology*
  • Salivary Glands, Minor / pathology*

Substances

  • Muscarinic Agonists
  • Pilocarpine