ABSTRACT
The authors review the etiological, and therapeutic data obtained from a statistical study of a homogenous group of 50 patients after submandibular gland resections. The operation was conducted for calculi in the gland in 56% of cases, infections in 24% and for other causes in the few remaining cases, including 4% with glandular tumors. From the technical point of view, the two cutaneous approaches with section of the vessels and simple enucleation were able to be employed in 76% and 24% of the cases respectively; the ease with which cleavage was obtained being the main factor whatever the etiology. Wharton's duct must be systematically and completely removed when calculi are present. The indications for therapy can be summarized as follows: -- systematic operation on any suspicious tumor for which the etiology is not rapidly discovered, -- determining factors for operation are also infections, recurrences, and a posterior localization of the calculi, -- postoperative complications are minor and consist mainly of paresis of the VIIth cranial nerve, which always regressed in this series.
