Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 398-406, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Salivary gland changes in disease
B. Tandler
Ultrastructural alterations occurring in human salivary glands as a result
of a variety of diseases are described. Major changes in these organs in
cases of cystic fibrosis are probably the result of duct blockage, as
indicated by study of chronically inflamed salivary glands. A new disease
of salivary glands is reported in which parotid serous granules are
distorted by bundles of fine filaments, which may be due to the untoward
polymerization of a secretory protein, perhaps proline-rich protein.
Finally, a clear-cell adenocarcinoma of palatine gland origin is described
in which the nuclei display complex pseudoinclusions and the cytoplasm
contains numerous herpes-type viruses.
