Spontaneous hyperplastic and metaplastic duct epithelium in the sublingual salivary glands of Wistar rats

Focal epithelial hyperplasia and metaplasia were observed in the intralobular ducts of the sublingual salivary glands of 302 out of 1142 Wistar rats. These rats (aged 16-145 weeks) served as controls in toxicological experiments. The ductal changes varied from small groups of irregular cylindrical cells with basophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei, with often prominent nucleoli, to large areas of non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with marked mitotic activity and necrotic superficial cells being released in the lumen. Mononuclear inflammatory cells were often present in fibrous tissue surrounding altered ducts. Within certain limits the degree and incidence of the changes increased with increasing age; their aetiology is unknown.

[How is a ranula formed?]

The origin of a ranula is due to obliteration of a minor duct of the sublingual gland. The main excretory duct remains patent.

Sublingual gland herniation through the mylohyoid muscle

A deficiency in the mylohyoid muscle, usually with a herniation of part of the sublingual gland and fat tissue through it, was present in 82 (27.3%) of 300 half-heads dissected. In 17 (11.3%) of the cadavers the condition was bilateral. The hiatus appeared as a transverse fissure between the fibers or as a broader round or oval opening. In some cases the herniation was found constricted at its base; in others the base was broad. The importance of these herniations for diagnostic and surgical purposes is stressed, and the possible factors in their development are analyzed.

Sublingual gland salivary fistula and sialocele

A case of cutaneous salivary fistula and sialocele in the submental area, arising from the sublingual gland, is reported and its etiology, development, and management are discussed. The entity of plunging ranula is compared to the lesion the case presented, and the literature regarding this lesion is reviewed. The successful surgical treatment of this case supports the theory that the sublingual gland is the source of the disorder. The effect of the altered salivary function on the adjacent submandibular gland and duct presented an operative complication.

Plunging ranula

A review of nine cases of plunging ranula reveals a prominent vascular stroma that can, in recurrent lesions, lead to the misdiagnosis of "hemangioma". In addition, this study adds to the world's literature further evidence in support of initial excision of the sublingual gland as a cause of the plunging ranula.

Papillary adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland origin in a child

A papillary adenocarcinoma with metastasis occurred in a 5-year-old child. The neoplasm arose on the anterolateral sublingual aspect of the tongue and metastasized to a submandibular lymph node. Histologically, the tumor contained broad glandular papillary projections. The tumor cells were cuboidal and had vesicular, "ground glass" nuclei. Colloidlike material was found within the stroma and lumen of the glands. To determine whether the papillary adenocarcinoma was of minor salivary gland or ectopic thyroid in origin, ultrastructural, histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques were applied to make this clinically important distinction. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies did not indicate the site of origin. Histochemical methods, however, demonstrated the colloidlike material to be sulfated mucopolysaccharide, which was nonreducible by ferric ferrocyanide. These histochemical properties and the anterolateral location identified the tumor as salivary gland in origin.

Degenerative changes in the digestive glands of rats bearing Leydig cell tumors

We undertook this study to determine the effects of a transplantable Leydig cell tumor on the major digestive glands of the host rats. It has been known that after bearing this tumor for only two weeks, the rats become anorexic and cathectic, develop hypercalcemia and osteolysis, and their peripheral bone marrow becomes hyperplastic. We now demonstrate that the parotid glands undergo marked degeneration including depletion of secretory product, apparent loss of acinar organization and the appearance of conjoined nuclei. The submandibular and sublingual glands and the pancreas are virtually unaffected. The liver undergoes fatty degeneration, the Kupffer cells become more prominent and more numerous, and the sinusoids sometimes contain small islets of hemopoietic tissue.

Irradiated salivary glands in the rhesus monkey. A light microscopic study

Female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) received fractionated doses of orthovoltage irradiation to the submandibular and sublingual glands. Changes in the glands varied from serous cell degranulation and degeneration in the submandibular glands to acinar cell necrosis and fibrosis in the sublingual glands. Acute inflammation was absent in all irradiated glands. In all glands, the microvasculature appeared normal.

Oncocytic cardiomyopathy in an infant with oncocytosis in exocrine and endocrine glands

An 11 week old female infant with congenitally malformed eyes died from intractable cardiac arrhythmia. The heart showed extensive oncocytic transformation of myocytes, and this distinctive cardiomyopathy affected the conduction system. Oncocytes were found also in endocrine (pituitary, thyroid) and exocrine (submandibular, sublingual, minor salivary) glands. There is morphologic evidence that the lesions were caused early in gestation, possibly by a viral infection such as rubella.

Plexiform neurofibroma of major salivary glands in children

Two cases of plexiform neurofibroma of major salivary glands in children are presented. The sites were the sublingual glands in one and the parotid and submaxillary glands in the other. The four previously reported cases in children, all involving the parotid, are briefly reviewed. A sarcomatous component was present in one case. Although plexiform neurofibroma of the major salivary glands is unusual, the possibility should be considered in those patients with von Recklinghausen's disease who develop a major salivary gland tumor.

Morphometric study of the effect of hypervitaminosis A on the sublingual gland of the rat

Hypervitaminosis A induces the following changes in the rat sublingual gland: smaller size acini with lower cells and smaller nuclei. The serous demilunes show smaller cells and nuclei. The striated ducts show smaller and disorganized cells with smaller nuclei. These data were confirmed by morphometric techniques.

Correlation between postsialographical changes of salivary isoamylase levels in serum and histopathological findings in sublingual glands in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Salivary isoamylase values in sera were evaluated before and after sialography in 14 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and were compared with those in non-SS patients. Non-SS patients consisted of cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. In non-SS patients, salivary isoamylase 3 to 6 hours after injection of Conray-400 increased to 2.3 +/- 0.5 fold higher than that prior to the injection and returned to the previous values after 48 hours. On the basis of increases in salivary isoamylase after injection of Conray-400, SS could be divided into three groups: the high response group, the group showing the same values as in non-SS patients and the low response group. The high response group was further classified into two subgroups. Salivary isoamylase before injection in the high response group was higher in patients who showed mild mononuclear cell infiltration histopathologically in their sublingual glands and was lower in patients whose sublingual glands showed diffuse infiltration of mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells had infiltrated severely in the sublingual glands of patients in the low response group, although they showed salivary isoamylase values before injection within the same ranges as in non-SS patients. These data suggest that both salivary isoamylase before injection and maximum salivary isoamylase increased significantly in cases of mild sialadenitis, the former value decreased with increasing infiltration of mononuclear cells into the sublingual glands, and both values were lower in cases of severe sialadenitis.

Morphologic alterations in the trachea and the salivary gland following the induction of rapid synchronous vitamin A deficiency in rats

The use of the synchronous induction method enables both assessment of the sequence and reliability of the appearance of morphologic signs of vitamin A deficiency, and their accurate correlation with biochemical and physiologic abnormalities. In the trachea, hyperplasia of basal epithelial cells was observed by Day 4 (T4) following the withdrawal of retinoic acid from retinoate-cycled, stringently deficient rats. Keratinization was observed by Day 6, the upper part of the trachea showing the highest incidence of keratinization. All such metaplastic changes originated in the narrow strip of tissue directly cojoining the esophagus. In the submaxillary glands, atrophy of the acini, an increase in interlobular spaces, and fibrosis and dilatation of the ducts was observed by Day 10. In more advanced stages of deficiency (T14-T18), cyst formation associated with suppuration and extensive cell atrophy was observed. Morphologic changes were less marked in the sublingual glands, although mucin levels were noticeably depressed by Day 12 of deficiency. Following the oral dosing of deficient animals (T12) with 350 micrograms retinyl palmitate, all such changes were reversed within 6 days in the trachea and within 10 days in the submaxillary and sublingual glands. Similar patterns were observed whether animals were force-fed or were fed ad libitum. Apart, therefore, from cause-effect considerations per se, morphologic changes are also potentially valuable reference indicators of deficiency, particularly in time course studies, or where force-feeding attenuates other signs of deficiency.

Cytologic study of salivary gland tumors

Cytologic examination was performed on 22 known oral tumors of glandular origin. Cytologically, the cells of benign pleomorphic adenomas and an adenolymphoma could easily be identified as of benign tumor origin, but cytologic determination of malignancy was difficult in 11 of 14 malignant tumors due to lack of malignant features. A precise and comparative study of the morphologic details of the tumor cells with the histologic findings, however, seemed to suggest a possibility of determining the histologic type even in smear preparations.

Cervical ranula

Ranulas are mucous extravasation cysts, and usually originate from the sublingual salivary gland. They may occasionally infiltrate the tissue planes of the neck and present as a cervical tumour. The literature is reviewed, and four personal cases of cervical ranula presented. Successful treatment may be achieved in the vast majority of cases by removal of the sublingual salivary gland.

Inflammatory cells in duct-ligated salivary glands of the cat: a histochemical study

Inflammatory cells were studied in submandibular, sublingual and parotid glands of cat following ductal ligation. Macrophages were seen within the parenchyma and associated with extravasated mucin, and were possibly of importance in removing secretory material. Neutrophils were seen interstitially and within the parenchyma. Eosinophils were involved in an initial inflammatory response in interstitial tissue. Fibrous connective tissue was more apparent.