Introduction:

There are different grading systems for interpreting the minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) in patients with dry symptoms (Sicca). The recommended methodology is currently the Focus Score (FS), which, although not performed routinely, results in diagnostic discrepancies.

Objective:

To determine the concordance of the histopathological reading of MSGB between the FS and Chisholm Mason (CM) techniques for diagnosis of focal lymphocytic sialadenitis at the San José Hospital between January 2017 and June 2018.

Methods:

Concordance study. MSGB of patients with sicca symptoms were included. Material not suitable for study and / or with less than 4 lobules and / or less than 8 mm of surface area was excluded. They were classified, using the FS and CM techniques, by two independent evaluators. The inter-observer, intra-observer, and overall agreement between the tests were evaluated using Cohen's Kappa coefficient.

Results:

A total of 130 biopsies were evaluated. The intra-observer K values between FS and CM were 0.42 for observer 1, and 0.23 for observer 2. The K values of the inter-observer agreement were 0.47 for FS, and 0.65 for CM. The concordance between the two scoring systems was K = 0.13.

Conclusions:

There is evidence of a probable over-estimation of foci with CM, highlighting its weaknesses and greater precision with FS technique, resulting in the weak concordance between the two tests. A greater effort is necessary for the use of the standardised MSGB FS reading method for a correct interpretation and benefit in the classification of patients with dry syndrome.

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