Agenesis of submandibular glands: a report of two cases with review of literature

Agenesia of salivary glands: incidental findings in multidetector computerized tomography

Agenesis of the salivary glands is an extremely uncommon finding, and in the majority of cases, it is associated with facial syndromes or malformations. Reports in the literature have, however, indicated that agenesis of the major salivary glands can occur in isolation, and this anomaly is believed to occur due to a failure in the developmental process. Herein, we present two cases of isolated unilateral agenesis of major salivary glands.

Rare condition of unilateral submandibular gland aplasia and its diagnostic significance in oral cavity carcinoma

Background

The unilateral submandibular gland aplasia (agenesis) is a rare, asymptomatic condition usually discovered incidentally on imaging. This is associated commonly with either compensatory hypertrophy of contralateral submandibular gland or sublingual glands.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 34-year-old male with incidentally detected unilateral submandibular gland aplasia associated with hypertrophy of ipsilateral sublingual gland, demonstrated by imaging modalities, where we have highlighted the diagnostic significance of such rare findings in oncology, particularly in oral cavity carcinoma cases with metastatic submandibular lymph nodes (level IB) mimicking as submandibular gland. Hence, lymphadenopathy can be missed preoperatively which is an important part of staging and treatment planning.

Conclusions

Aim of the present report is to create awareness about such rare entity in both clinicians/radiologists and highlight the imaging features for correct identification and to avoid any diagnostic dilemmas.

Isolated aplasia of submandibular salivary gland and contralateral prominence of submandibular and sublingual salivary glands incidentally found on 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography-computed tomography

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted imaging is now an effective tool for the evaluation of prostate cancer patients. Although salivary glands take up ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA avidly, pathologies of these glands may be readily noticeable. Herein, we present a case of prostate cancer referred for ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography–computed tomography in whom an isolated aplasia of the submandibular salivary gland was incidentally found.

Unilateral Submandibular Gland Aplasia with Ipsilateral Sublingual Ranula - A Case Report

Background:

Congenital aplasia of major salivary glands is a very rare entity, especially if it concerns an ipsilateral aplasia in a nonsyndromic patient.

Key points from the case:

The aim of this report is to present a case of an aplasia of the left submandibular gland, which was incidentally diagnosed during presurgical imaging for an ipsilateral sublingual ranula. Histopathological evidence of the lack of sublingual gland tissue in the excised specimen of the ranula is discussed.

Main lessons to be learned from this case report:

Unilateral submandibular aplasia has unknown etiology. Clinicians should be aware of this condition mainly to be able to differentially diagnose a hypertrophy/dysplasia of the contralateral or other major salivary glands, or when xerostomia is the main patient's symptom.