IgG4-related sialodacryoadenitis and chronic rhinosinusitis: a clinicopathologic analysis of 13 cases

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of IgG4-related sialodacryoadenitis and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Methods: A total of 13 patients (patient group) were evaluated clinically and biopsy specimens from the lacrimal/salivary glands (n=12) and nasal mucosa (n=8) were reviewed and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess IgG-and IgG4-positive cells. Similarly, nine patients with IgG4-related sialodacryoadenitis without CRS and 10 patients with common CRS were included as controls.

Results: There were 8 male patients and 5 female patients. The age of patients ranged from 32 to 71 years (mean 50.2 years). The patient group had higher serum IgG4 concentration than that of the control group (P<0.05). Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, lymphoid follicle formation and sclerosis were prominent in lacrimal/salivary glands in both groups; however the magnitude of IgG4-positive plasmacytic infiltration in the patient group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Similarly, evaluation of nasal mucosa revealed greater lymphocytic and plasmacytic infiltration, and lymphoid follicle formation, together with significantly higher amount of IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration in the patient group compared to the common CRS group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) simultaneously involving lacrimal/salivary glands and nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses is rare and characterized by a combination of IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration involving lacrimal/salivary glands and nasal mucosa along with an increased serum level of IgG4. As a systemic disease, early and accurate diagnosis is therefore of great importance, and unnecessary surgery should be avoided.