Lupus erythematosus profundus around the salivary glands: a case resembling submandibular salivary gland disease.

In a 29 year old Japanese woman with SLE, a bilateral submandibular mass was detected. Computed tomographic (CT) scan suggested inflammatory changes around the submandibular glands. Histological findings of the deep skin biopsy showed typical changes of lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP). LEP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an unexplained submandibular mass in a subject with SLE.