Background. Sarcoidosis is a multi-system granulomatous disease that is seen occasionally in patients with characteristic bilateral parotid gland swelling. Conventional therapy has involved either no treatment because of spontaneous remission or corticosteroids when organ involvement is severe.
Case Description. The authors describe a previously published case report of a patient with sarcoidosis with parotid gland swellings who did not respond to standard therapy. Despite the use of various immunosuppressive agents, the swellings failed to resolve over a three-year period. It was only after a newly recommended agent, infliximab, was used that the patient’s condition was treated successfully.
Clinical Implications. It is important for dental practitioners to be familiar with manifestations of sarcoidosis, particularly its salivary gland aspects. Inherent in the knowledge of the disease is the therapeutic approach to both routine and recalcitrant cases.
