Sublingual salivary gland sialolithiasis in a dog

Feline sialocoele: clinical presentation, treatment and outcome in 19 cases

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this retrospective observational study was to describe the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of cats with sialocoele.

METHODS

Clinical records from seven referral hospitals were retrospectively searched to identify cats with sialocoele between 2007 and 2021.

RESULTS

Nineteen cats were identified. The most common clinical signs were ptyalism, dysphagia and anorexia. Localisation of the sialocoele was cervical (n = 6), sublingual (n = 6), cervical/sublingual (n = 3), facial (n = 2), cervical/pharyngeal (n = 1) and zygomatic (n = 1). The affected salivary glands were mandibular-sublingual (n = 15), mandibular-sublingual/parotid (n = 1), zygomatic/parotid (n = 1) and parotid (n = 2). The aetiology of the sialocoele was traumatic in two cases, neoplastic in one cat and unknown in 16 cats. Sialoadenectomy was performed in 11 cats. Other treatments included ranula marsupialisation (n = 3), needle drainage (n = 2), single stab incision (n = 2) and parotid duct ligation (n = 1). The median follow-up time was 399 days (range 15-1460). Postoperative seroma was the only complication observed in one cat. No recurrence was reported.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Feline salivary sialocoele are relatively rare and have a good prognosis. They can be managed successfully with sialoadenectomy; however, a more conservative approach can be used with appropriate case selection.

Multi-institutional study of long-term outcomes of a ventral versus lateral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in dogs with a unilateral sialocele: 46 cases (1999–2019)

OBJECTIVE

To compare the long-term outcomes of a ventral versus lateral surgical approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in dogs with a unilateral sialocele.

ANIMALS

46 client-owned dogs.

PROCEDURES

Medical records of dogs that underwent unilateral sialoadenectomy between 1999 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed, and information was collected regarding signalment, clinical signs, historical treatment, swelling location, diagnostic imaging findings, sialoadenectomy approach, adjunctive treatments, intraoperative complications, hospitalization time, postoperative complications, recurrence, and contralateral sialocele development.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in incidences of intraoperative complications, recurrence, or postoperative complications between dogs in which a lateral versus ventral approach was used. Clinically important intraoperative complications included iatrogenic tears in the oral mucosa, ligature slippage from the duct end, hemorrhage, and possible lingual nerve transection. Surgical experience was associated with the likelihood that intraoperative complications would develop. Suspected recurrence was reported in 2 of 26 (8%) dogs that underwent a lateral approach and 2 of 12 (17%) dogs that underwent a ventral approach. Hospitalization time was significantly shorter with the lateral approach than with the ventral approach. Postoperative complications had a short-term onset and occurred in 4 of 25 (16%) dogs that underwent a lateral approach and 3 of 12 (25%) dogs that underwent a ventral approach. Age and presence of a pharyngeal sialocele were associated with development of postoperative complications.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Long-term outcomes for ventral and lateral approaches to sialoadenectomy were favorable and appeared to be comparable. Further prospective study into potential associations of sialoadenectomy approach, age, and pharyngeal sialoceles on outcome is needed.

Sublingual sialocele in a cat

Case summary

A 1-year-old male neutered cat was presented with a right-sided swelling of the floor of the oral cavity, causing dysphagia and hypersialorrhoea for 2 months. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass and CT were suggestive of a right sublingual sialocoele with no obvious cause. Surgical resection of the ipsilateral sublingual–mandibular salivary gland complex, as well as marsupialisation of the mucocoele, was performed. The cat recovered uneventfully. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis. No sign of recurrence was reported 7 months after surgery.

Relevance and novel information

Overall, sialocoeles are rare in cats but sublingual mucocoele is the most common form. Diagnosis is usually straightforward and the use of CT to help localise the affected site and possibly identify a cause has been infrequently described. Surgical treatment recommendations have been updated, which also makes a refresher of this uncommon condition likely to be of interest to the feline practitioner.

Zygomatic sialolithiasis diagnosed with computed tomography in a dog

A 10-year-old castrated Shih-Tzu male dog was referred for examination of acute right exophthalmos, protrusion of the third eyelid and soft tissue swelling ventral to the globe. Ultrasonography revealed echogenic fluid around the right globe. Computed tomography (CT) showed an enlarged right zygomatic salivary gland compared with the left zygomatic gland and an amorphous cystic mass ventral to the right globe. Hyperdense material, which we suspected to be a sialolith, was identified in the right zygomatic gland. The zygomatic gland and the cystic lesion were removed, and a zygomatic sialocele with sialolith and ductal obstruction were found by histopathological examination. CT was a useful diagnostic tool for zygomatic sialolithiasis.

Clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of salivary mucoceles in 13 dogs

Salivary mucocele is one of the causes of submandibular swelling in dogs and is due to a collection of mucoid saliva that has leaked from a damaged salivary gland. The purpose of this case series report was to describe the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of confirmed salivary mucoceles in 13 dogs admitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University. The final diagnosis of salivary mucocele was based on aspirate cytology for all dogs and additional surgical excision for seven dogs. For dogs admitted from 2 weeks to 1 month from the onset of clinical signs, the cervical mucocele appeared as a round echogenic structure with a large volume of central anechoic content. The wall was a clearly identified hyperechoic structure surrounding the gland. For dogs admitted between 1 to 2 months from the onset of clinical signs, the volume of anechoic material appeared less than that seen in the acute cases. The overall appearance of the salivary mucocele was heterogenous. For dogs admitted after 2 months from the onset of clinical signs, the salivary mucocele appeared grainy or mottled, with a heterogenous appearance and a further decrease in anechoic content. For one dog that presented after 3 months from the onset of clinical signs, the salivary mucocele was hard on palpation and appeared hyperechoic with distal acoustic shadowing. Findings from this study indicated that ultrasonographic characteristics of salivary mucoceles in dogs vary depending on the chronological stage of the disease.