AIMS: Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (CSS) has been proposed recently to be a member of the group of IgG4-related diseases in Japanese and American series. The aim of our study was to validate these results in a cohort of European patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our CSS series included four females and two males, aged 32-76 years, all presenting with unilateral swelling of submandibular gland. Microscopically, all CSS-cases showed similar morphology with preservation of lobular architecture accentuated by cellular fibrous bands, dense lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and varied acinar atrophy. Ductal lymphocytes were detected in three cases. In five cases, the presence of intraductal secretory material accompanied by parenchymal neutrophils was observed. Obliterative phlebitis was seen in three cases. The inflammatory infiltrate was composed of T and B lymphocytes and polyclonal plasma cells. The median number of IgG-positive plasma cells per high-power field (HPF) was 157; median number of IgG4-positive plasma cells per HPF was 133. Median value of the IgG4:IgG ratio was 0.84. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first European series to demonstrate that CSS belongs to the family of IgG4-related disease. Unlike previous studies, in CSS we found rarely described ductal lymphocytes and parenchymal neutrophils. CSS displays consistent morphology with increased numbers of IgG4-positive plasma cells, and should be regarded as a member of the IgG4-related disease group.

The Fingerland Department of Pathology Charles University Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital in Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

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