Sialadenosis

Sialadenosis is usually seen as a chronic persistent asymptomatic bilateral hypertrophy of the parotid glands (PG). The condition occurs in patients with diabetes, alcoholism or malnutritional syndromes. It is believed that the common denominator that unites these systemic problems under one umbrella is that they all present with a peripheral neuropathy of the autonomic nerve supply to the salivary glands. A demyelinating neuropathy involving the sympathetic system develops. Excessive intracellular protein production and/or a failure to signal its secretion results. Individual acinar cells become engorged with intracellular protein. Cellular enlargement occurs and leads to the clinically visible PG hypertrophy.