An Unusual Large Submandibular Gland Calculus: A Case Report
Abstract
Salivary gland stones (Sialothiasis) most commonly occur in the Submandibular duct. This report describes the case of a patient who had an unusual large submandibular gland sialolith (calculus) that was completely obstructing the submandibular gland duct.
Key words: Calculi, Giant salivary gland stones.
Introduction
The great majority of salivary calculi (80%) occur in the submandibular gland and in the duct. Ten percent occur in the parotid and the remaining 10% in the sublingual gland and the minor salivar glands.1
Bilateral or multiple-gland sialolithiasis is occurring in fewer than 3% of cases.2
In patients with multiple stones, calculi may be located in different positions along the salivary duct and gland.
Submandibular stones close to the hilum of the gland tend to become large before they become symptomatic. Sialolithiasis occurs equally on the right and left sides.
Commonly, Sialoliths measure from 1 mm to less than 1 cm. Giant salivary gland stones (GSGS) are those stones measuring over 1.5 cm and have been rarely reported in the medical literature.3,4 GSGS measuring over 3 cm are extremely rare, with only scanty reported cases.5
Case report
In 2010, a 53-year-old white male was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Damascus General Hospital. He complained of a large, firm mass in the left side of the floor of his mouth in the submandibular gland area. He had a history of having episodes of left submandibular swelling occurring with meals. The past medical history was unremarkable.
Upon examination, bimanual palpation of the swollen area corresponding to the anatomic location of the left submandibular salivary gland duct further indicated that the mass was mobile, firm and non-tender (Figure1). The floor of the mouth was swollen. OPG revealed a large calcified mass at that area (Figure 2).A CT (Computerized tomography) scan showed a 3.32*1.14cm calculus blocking the submandibular gland duct (Figures 3, 4 and 5). Findings on blood and serum biochemistry were within normal limits.







Under local Anesthesia, the Calculus was excised via incision in the floor of the mouth and directly over the palpable mass. (Figure 6 and 7). The yellowish calculus was oval and had a rough, irregular surface (Figure 8). A short polyethylene tube was inserted at the site of incision. The flab was sutured around the tube (Figure 9). The sutures and the tube were removed after 2 weeks.





Discussion
The great majority of salivary calculi (80%) occur in the submandibular gland and in the duct. Ten percent occur in the parotid and the remaining 10% in the sublingual gland and the minor salivar glands.1 Flow of saliva against gravity, its more alkaline pH, and the high mucin and Ca+ content could explain the preferential stone formation in the submandibular gland.6 The exact etiology and pathogenesis are still unknown. There is a slight predilection for occurrence in men, usually above the age of 40 years.7 Patients present with pain, discomfort, and swelling before or during meals. Recurrent submandibular swelling is often mentioned. Bimanual massage of the affected gland and the excretory duct should be carried out, observing the flow and the clearness of the saliva. The calculus can often be located in the excretory duct, often quite anterior. This characteristically causes pain. Submandibular gland calculi have been reported to be radiopaque in 80% to 94.7% of cases.8, 9, 10 In the anterior floor of the mouth, an occlusal radiograph may reveal the calculus. Ultrasonography is widely reported as being very helpful in detecting salivary stones. As many as 90% of all stones larger than 2 mm can be detected as echodense spots on Ultrasonography.11 However, detection of small calculi may be difficult with ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT) is also highly diagnostic.12
When located in the submandibular gland itself a panoramic radiograph may be helpful. In small and radiolucent calculi radiographic findings may be negative and sialography can be the examination of choice, although displacement of the calculus toward the gland cannot always be avoided.
Although large sialoliths have been reported both in salivary glands and in salivary ducts, stones larger than 3 cm are rare.8,13,14 The giant siaolith in this patient was completely encased in the duct of the submandibular gland. A review of the literature by Ledesma-Montes et. al found only 16 reported cases of stones having a size or 3.5 cm or greater.5
Sialoliths are ovoid or round, smooth or rough with a yellowish color. They consist of calcium phosphate with small accounts of hydroxyapatite, magnesium, potassium and ammonia.10
Submandibular stones are typically removed surgically via either an intraoral or an external approach.15, 16 Surgical removal of the calculi is performed when located in the excretory duct near the opening. If the calculi are located in the gland itself, fragmentation can be performed by extracorporal or endoscopic laser lithotripsy.17-19 This treatment has to be performed several times. After operative removal or lithotripsy of calculi, scintigraphic examination shows functional recovery of the gland. In a non-functioning gland surgical removal would be indicated to avoid recurrent disease. In many units removal of the gland may be the first choice of treatment.
The future holds great promise due to the developments of non-surgical, non-invasive techniques such as shock wave lithotripsy, basket retrieval, and endoscopic laser lithotripsy.20,21
In a review of over 4,691 patients, Iro, et al.21 reported that retrieval of stones by baskets or microforceps is usually done for stones less than 5 mm and extracorporeal lithotripsy was mainly used for fixed parotid stones that were less than 7 mm in diameter.21
Conclusion
This case highlights a rare case of large Calculus which can be avoided by early diagnosis and proper treatment. Once the diagnosis of a salivary gland stone is established attempts at removal by minimally invasive techniques should be considered.
References
1- Seifert G, Mann W, Kastenbauer E 1992 Sialolithiasis. In :Naumann HH, Helms J, Herberhold C, Kastenbauer E (eds) Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie in Klinik und Praxis, Bd 2. Thieme, Stuttgart, pp 729-732
2- McKenna JP, Bostock DJ, McMenamin PG. Sialolithiasis. Am Fam Physician 1987 Nov;36: 119-25.
3- Bodner L. Giant salivary gland calculi: diagnostic imaging and surgical management. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2002 Sep;94(3):320-3
4- Soares EC, Costa FW, Pessoa RM, Bezerra Giant salivary calculus of the submandibular gland. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009 Jan;140(1):1289.
5- Ledesma-Montes C, Garcés-Ortíz M, Salcido-García J, Hernández-Flores F, Hernández-Guerrero H. Giant Sialolith, Case report and review of literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007; 65:128-30.
6- Peel RL, Gnepp DR 1985 Diseases of the Salivary Glands. In: Barnes L (ed) Surgical pathology of the head and neck, vol 1. Dekker, New York 533—645.
7- Lustmann J, Rege V, Mlelamed Y 1990 Sialolithiasis. A survey on 245 patients and a review of the literature. International Journal of Oral and MaxilloCcial Surgery 19:135—138.
8- Zakaria MA. Giant calculi of the submandibular salivary gland. Br J Oral Surg 1981 Sep;19: 230-2.
9- Marchal F, Kurt AM, Dulgerov P, Lehmann W. Retrograde theory in sialolithiasis formation. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001 Jan;127: 66- 8.
10- Williams MF. Sialolithisis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 1999 Oct;32: 819-34.
11- Van den Akker HP. Diagnostic imaging in salivary gland disease. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1988 Nov;66: 625-37.
12- Weissman JL. Imaging of the salivary glands. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 1995 Dec;16: 546-68.
13- Akin I, Esmer N. A submandibular sialolith of unusual size: A case report. J Otolaryngol 1991 Aor;20: 123-5.
14- Siddiqui SJ. Sialolithiasis: An unusually large submandibular salivary stone. Br Dent J 2002 Jul;193: 89-91.
15- Zenk J, Constantinidis J, Al-Kadah B, Iro H. Transoral removal of submandibular stones. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001 Apr;127: 432-6.
16- Marchal F, Dulguerov P. Sialolithiasis management, The state of the art. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003 Sep;129: 951-6.
17- Iro H, Benzel W, Zenk J et al 1993 Minimal-invasive Behandlung der Sialolithiasis mittels extrakorporaler StoBwellen. HNO 41:311—3 16.
18- Kater W, Rahn R, Meyer WW et al 1990 Ambulante extrakorporale StoBlwellenlithotripsie von Speichelsteinen als neues nichtinvasives Behandlungskonzept. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Mund-, Kiefer und Gesichtschirurgie 14:216—220.
11
19- Nahlieli 0, Neder A, Baruchin AM 1994 Salivary gland endoscopy: a new technique for diagnosis and treatment of sialolithiasis. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 52:1240—1242.
20- Ottaviani F, Capacio P, Campi M, Ottaviani A. Extracorporeal electromagnetic shock-wave lithotripsy for salivary gland stones. Laryngoscope 1996 Jun;106: 761-4.
21- Iro H, Zenk J, Escudier MP, Nahliell O, Capaccio P, Katz P, Brown J & McGurk M. Outcome of minimally invasive management of salivary calculi in 4,691 patients. The Laryngoscope 2009 Feb;119(2):263-8.
by Dr. Moutaz Al khen, Dr. Bader E. Abdeen
-
1 International Summit at VOCO
-
2 Initially-misdiagnosed traumatic displacement of primary maxillary canine into the oral vestibule
-
3 Implantology meets Implantmed
-
4 Coronectomy: Patients with comorbidities, carious teeth and associated cyst
-
5 Hypnosis Applied to Dental Practice: A review
-
6 Mouth Breathing, Malocclusion & restoration of nasal breathing
-
7 Periodontal Disease and Systemic Disease
-
8 Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Inaugurates AEEDC Dubai 2018
-
9 TheraCal LC by Bisco
-
10 Recommendations for mechanically reducing plaque