Sublingual sialocele in a cat

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.

Transoral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in a cat

Sialocele is an uncommon condition in cats. The treatment of choice for sublingual sialocele is excision of the ipsilateral mandibular and sublingual salivary gland/duct complex. Lateral and ventral cervical approaches have been described for mandibular-sublingual sialoadenectomy; however, the transoral approach, described here, has never been reported in cats. Ranula in the present case was likely caused by an inadvertent trauma of the sublingual duct during resection of a sublingual lesion performed by the referring veterinarian. The definitive surgery consisted of mass removal and sialoadenectomy through a unique oral approach. The surgery was effective without complications encountered after 6 months of follow-up. Key clinical message: This article reports a novel, transoral approach, for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in the cat. This approach decreases the surgical time and prevents recurrence of the mucocele.

Sialocoele associated with the molar salivary gland in a British Shorthair cat

Case summary

A 16-year-old neutered female British Shorthair cat presented with a 5-year history of swelling lateral to the left mandible that intermittently discharged viscous, clear fluid from a small defect in the skin. CT, ultrasonography, physical characteristics and cytology of the fluid were suggestive of sialocoele. CT showed a large, cavitary, fluid-filled mass lateral to the left mandible. A ventral approach was used to resect the left mandibular, sublingual and molar salivary glands and sialocoele. Histopathology of the molar and mandibular and sublingual glands showed chronic active sialoadenitis with more severe changes in the molar gland. There were no signs of recurrence of the sialocoele 12 months after surgery.

Relevance and novel information

This is the first report of a cranial cervical sialocoele potentially involving the molar salivary gland in a cat. Resection of the mandibular, sublingual and molar salivary glands should be considered in cats that present with a cranial cervical sialocoele.