Minor Salivary Glands

The minor salivary glands are an integral part of the salivary gland complex. Their dispersion throughout the oral cavity makes them subject to a variety of pathologic insults. It is not unusual for a minor salivary gland to reflect pathologic changes in association with a disease process that involves the major salivary glands. The presence of these pathologic changes in a minor salivary gland has been recognized and utilized as key or adjunctive aids in attaining a definitive diagnosis of a systemic disease process. The role of the labial salivary gland biopsy in attaining the diagnosis of some systemic diseases is highlighted. It is the availability and accessibility of the labial salivary gland that makes it the prime subject for histologic examination via a biopsy. In addition, the clinician should be aware that there are several pathologic processes that primarily target the minor glands (mucocele, necrotizing sialometaplasia).