[Focal oncocytosis of the salivary glands and etiopathogenetic relations]

Abstract

Focal oncocytosis in minor and major salivary glands is a relatively rare condition. We found it in 92 (8.7%) of 1056 biopsy and operation specimens of the salivary glands. There was a nearly balanced sex ratio. Oncocytosis was found mainly in patients between the 5th and 8th decades of life, with a progressive tendency. Oncocytic transformations of the ductal epithelium were always associated with additional lesions. These were chronic sialadenitis, hyperplasia and metaplasia of ductal epithelium and morphological signs of central or peripheral salivary obstruction. As etiologic factors or fundamental diseases, mainly neoplasms and chronic inflammations with hyperplasia of the oral mucosa and a primary chronic (obstructive) sialadenitis were found, but age-related mechanisms could not be excluded. We believe the oncocytic transformation to be a regressive alteration of previously hypertrophic or hyperplastic ductal epithelium with the appearance of a mitochondriopathy.