Stones are most commonly seen in which salivary gland: March 2005, 2007
Ans. A: Submandibular Sialolithiasis Most common disease of salivary glands Twice as common in males as females 80-95% occur in submandibular gland or duct ( because their secretion is highly viscous) Stones are most common cause of acute and chronic infection of salivary glands 80% of submandibular stones are opaque; 60% of parotid are opaque Consist of mainly calcium phosphate Not associated with systemic calcium abnormalities Very unusual for patients to have a combination of radio-opaque and non-opaque stones - Signs and symptoms Pain and swelling of involved gland Sialolithiasis causes pain and swelling of the involved salivary gland by obstructing the food-related flow of salivary secretions Calculi may cause stasis of saliva facilitating bacterial ascent into the gland and subsequent infection Some may be asymptomatic - Imaging Plain radiography Opaque stone in course of Whaon's (submandibular) or Stensen's (parotid) ducts CT Stone in duct Ductal dilatation
Submandibular
Sublingual
Parotid
Occurs with equal frequency in all the salivary glands