Submandibular sialolithiasis and sialadenitis. a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

To study the pattern, mode of presentation, diagnosis treatment and natural course of the disease in our patients. This is a retrospective study of 25 patients diagnosed to have submandibular sialolithiasis and sialadenitis and treated at some of the military hospitals in Jordan in the period between 1994 and 1999. The pattern, mode of presentation, diagnosis, and treatment and natural course of the disease in all patients were reviewed. The study showed that our findings were comparable with those reported in the literature. Surgeon should be aware of the surgical anatomy regarding adjacent important structures such as the lowest branch of the seventh nerve which courses over the upper portion of the gland; injury to this nerve blocks the innervations of the inferior quarter of the orbicularis oris on the side of the nerve and deprives the patient of the ability to pucker his lips normally also the lingual nerve is deep to the upper inferior surface of the submandibular gland, it also lies parralel to the corse of wharton's duct injury to the lingual nerve can occur either when the warton's duct is clamped or when the gland is polled down dragging the lingual nerve by it's nerve attachment. Sialography is the only way to determine the site and nature of an obstruction when nothing is seen on plain radiographs