L.3
Ã. ÃÃÃä ÃÃÃãThe salivary glands
The salivary glands
The parotid glands:
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the major salivary
glands and weigh, on average, 15–30 g. Located in the preauricular region and
along the posterior surface of the mandible, each parotid gland is divided by
the facial nerve into a superficial lobe and a deep lobe. The superficial lobe,
overlying the lateral surface of the masseter, is defined as the part of the
gland lateral to the facial nerve. The deep lobe is medial to the facial nerve
and located between the mastoid process of the temporal bone and the ramus of
the mandible. Most benign neoplasms are found within the superficial lobe and
can be removed by a superficial parotidectomy. Tumours arising in the deep lobe
of the parotid gland can grow and extend laterally, displacing the overlying
superficial lobe without direct involvement. These parapharyngeal tumours can
grow into «dumbbell-shaped» tumours, because their growth is directed through
the stylomandibular tunnel.
The parotid gland is bounded superiorly by the zygomatic arch.
Inferiorly, the tail of the parotid gland extends down and abuts the
anteromedial margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This tail of the parotid
gland extends posteriorly over the superior border of the sternocleidomastoid
muscle toward the mastoid tip. The deep lobe of the parotid lies within the
parapharyngeal space.
Fascia
The deep cervical fascia continues superiorly to form the parotid fascia, which
is split into superficial and deep layers to enclose the parotid gland. The
thicker superficial fascia is extended superiorly from the masseter and
sternocleidomastoid muscles to the zygomatic arch. The deep layer extends to the
stylomandibular ligament (or membrane), which separates the superficial and deep
lobes of the parotid gland. The stylomandibular ligament is an important
surgical landmark when considering the resection of deep lobe tumours. In fact,
stylomandibular tenotomy can be a crucial maneuver in providing exposure for en
bloc resections of deep-lobe parotid or other parapharyngeal space tumours. The
parotid fascia forms a dense inelastic capsule and, because it also covers the
masseter muscle deeply, can sometimes be referred to as the parotid masseteric
fascia.
Stensen’s Duct
The parotid duct, also known as Stensen’s duct, secretes serous saliva into
the vestibule of the oral cavity.
From the anterior border of the gland, it travels parallel to the zygoma,
approximately 1 cm below it, in an anterior direction across the masseter
muscle. It then turns sharply to pierce the buccinator muscle and enters the
oral cavity opposite the second upper molar tooth.
The submandibular gland:
The submandibular gland (in older texts, this gland was sometimes referred to as«the submaxillary gland») is the second largest major salivary gland and
weighs 7–16 g. The gland is located in the submandibular triangle, which has a
superior boundary formed by the inferior edge of the mandible and inferior
boundaries formed by the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle.
Also lying within the triangle are the submandibular lymph nodes, facial artery
and vein, mylohyoid muscle, and the lingual, hypoglossal, and mylohyoid nerves.
Most of the submandibular gland lies posterolateral to the mylohyoid muscle.
During neck dissection or submandibular gland excision, this mylohyoid muscle
must be gently retracted anteriorly to expose the lingual nerve and
submandibular ganglion.
Often, smaller, tongue-like projections of the gland follow the duct,
as it ascends toward the oral cavity, deep to the mylohyoid muscle. However,
these projections should be distinguished from the sublingual gland which lies
superior to the mylohyloid muscle. The duct exits anteriorly from the sublingual
aspect of the gland, coursing deep to the lingual nerve and medial to the
sublingual gland. It eventually forms Wharton’s duct between the hyoglossus
and mylohyoid muscles on the genioglossus muscle. Wharton’s duct, the main
excretory duct of the submandibular gland, is approximately 4–5 cm long,
running superior to the hypoglossal nerve while inferior to the lingual nerve.
It empties lateral to the lingual frenulum through a papilla in the floor of the
mouth behind the lower incisor tooth.
The sublingual gland
The smallest of the major salivary glands is the sublingual gland, weighing
2–4 g. Consisting mainly of mucous acinar cells, it lies as a flat structure
in a submucosal plane within the anterior floor of the mouth, superior to the
mylohyoid muscle and deep to the sublingual folds opposite the lingual frenulum.
Lateral to it are the mandible and genioglossus muscle. There is no true fascial
capsule surrounding the gland, which is instead covered by oral mucosa on its
superior aspect. Several ducts (of Rivinus) from the superior portion of the
sublingual gland either secrete directly into the floor of mouth, or empty into
Bartholin’s duct that then continues into Wharton’s duct
Minor salivary glands
About 600 to 1,000 minor salivary glands, ranging in size from 1 to 5 mm, line
the oral cavity and oropharynx. The greatest number of these glands is in the
lips, tongue, buccal mucosa, and palate, although they can also be found along
the tonsils, supraglottis, and paranasal sinuses. Each gland has a single duct
which secretes, directly into the oral cavity, saliva which can be either
serous, mucous, or mixed.
Non-neoplastic salivary glands diseases
I. Congenital salivary gland diseases:
Agenesis of the salivary glands is extremely rare usually affectmales twice more than females and predisposes to dental caries which is the
presenting symptom and can be associated with other ectodermal abnormalities.
II. Pseudoparotomegaly:
The parotid gland is in direct contact with the skin, the masseter muscle,and the parapharyngeal space. It encloses the facial nerve and external carotid
artery. It contains up to 20-lymph nodes within its parenchyma and 5-10 lymph
nodes on its surface. Many conditions of these structures can mimic parotid and
submandibular glands enlargement.
1. Hypertrophy of masseter muscle: it occurs usually in females bilaterally
resulting in square face and the diagnosis becomes obvious when the patient
clench the teeth.
2. Ageing: bulging occurs due to absorption of adipose tissue in elderly
patients.
3. Dental causes: usually due to infection spreading to the nearby parotid lymph
nodes or to the floor of the mouth (Ludwigs angina), or tissue odema in the
infratemporal area and between the heads of the masseter muscle causing facial
swelling.
4. Tumours of the parapharyngeal space and infratemporal fossa: tumours of
nerves, lymph nodes, metastasic tumours, and tuberculosis.
5. Mandibular tumours: bone tumours.
6. Mastoiditis: with the infection tracking to the neck.
7. Intraparotid lesions: neuromas, aneurysms, lymph nodes enlargement, and
parotid cysts.
III. Infections of the salivary glands:
Viral and bacterial infections are the commonest salivary gland diseases
(mumps, and acute suppurative sialadenitis).
1. Mumps:
It's an acute generalized paramyxovirus infection of children and
young adults. Mumps typically affecting major salivary glands, although other
structures can be affected also including the pancreas, testes, ovaries, brain,
breasts, liver, joints and heart.
Mumps is transmitted via the droplet route and has an incubation time
of 14-18 days, it presents with initial pyrexia, facial pain, enlarged parotid
glands, swelling of the submandibular glands, lymphadenopathy, and rarely
sublingual swelling. Mumps salivary swelling tends to diminish after 4-5 days
and serious not infrequent mumps complications include orchitis and viral
meningitis.
2. HIV salivary gland disease:
Is a distinct disorder, characterized by recurrent or persistent
salivary gland enlargement, usually of the parotids, and xerostomia tend to
arise late in HIV infection. Clinically it mimics Sjogren syndrome. Treatments:
include antiviral therapy, repeated aspiration, tetracycline sclerosis, surgical
removal of enlarged gland and external radiation.
3. Hepatitis C virus infection:
Unlike other types of hepatitis, hepatitis C infection frequently
gives to a wide spectrum of extrahepatic manifestations that include salivary
gland disease in 80% of infected patients. It usually causes xerostomia, Sjogren
syndrome like symptoms, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
4. Suppurative sialadenitis (suppurative parotitis):
Acute suppurative sialadenitis presents with painful swelling (usually
of the parotid glands), purulent discharge from the duct of the affected gland,
dysgeusia, cervical lymphadenopathy, fever, malaise, parapharyngeal abscess, and
Ludwigs angina.
It usually affects adults, although children may rarely be affected.
Diagnosis is by clinical features, U\S, and MRI. Treatment is by effective
hydration, and antibiotics. Surgery is considered if there is no improvement
after 3-5 days.
5. Chronic non-specific sialadenitis:
It's an uncommon disease affecting adults, characterized by recurrent
and\or persistent enlargement of one major salivary gland usually the parotid
gland with features similar to acute sialadenitis, but without constitutional
symptoms. Spontaneous healing occurs in the majority of cases and 40% need
surgery (subtotal or total removal).
6. Recurrent parotitis of childhood (juvenile recurrent parotitis):
Its characterized by recurrent unilateral parotid inflammation usually
associated with non-obstructive sialectasis of the parotid gland, affect
children of 3-6 years old with the number of attacks vary from 1-5 per year.
Most of the cases resolve at puberty (90%). The patient present with localized
pain and swelling that may last up to 14 days, fever and overlying erythema are
common and occasionally white mucopus can be expressed from the parotid duct.
Analgesia is the mainstay of therapy.
IV. Sialolithiasis:
It’s a common disorder due to the formation of calculi (sialoliths),usually within the ductal system of a gland and is more common in the
submandibular gland (more than 80%) and females are more commonly affected.
Clinically the patient had recurrent swelling of the gland with eating;
which is diffuse, non-tender and resolve in few hours and usually associated
with burning like local pain. Long standing Sialolithiasis may give rise to
acute suppurative sialadenitis or chronic non-specific sialadenitis.
Investigations include; plain radiographs, U\S, sialography, and CT
scan. When the stone is small and in the duct (distal part) it's removed locally
from the oral cavity, but when it's big in the proximal part of the duct or in
the gland total removal of the gland is the usual treatment. Lithotripsy aided
by fluoroscopy or sialoendoscopy is used for stones less than 7mm in diameter.
V. Drug associated salivary gland disease:
1. Swelling: mild transient, bilateral, painless sialadenitis may
follow phenylbutazone, chlorhexidine, iodine and radioactive iodine usage.
2. Xerostomia: dry mouth is a common symptom especially in elderly
people; over 500 drugs can cause dry mouth, but the principle mechanism is
anticholinergic and sympathomimetic. Therefore, tricyclics, benzodiazepines,
atropinics, beta-blocker and antihistamines are the most common drugs involved.
3. Pain: is rarely associated with guanethidine therapy and may be a
side effect of bethanide, bretylium, clonidine, methyldopa and some cytotoxics.
4. Salivary discolouration: associated with rifampicin and rifabutin
therapy.
VI. Sialosis:
Is an uncommon non-neoplastic non-inflammatory disorder giving
rise to bilateral non-painful enlargement of the major salivary glands, and is
usually associated with diabetes, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, hepatic
cirrhosis, puberty, menopause and antihypertensive drugs.
VII. Bulimia nervosa:
It's suggested that binge eating may result in functionalhypertrophy of the salivary glands; also it can occur due to passage of fluid
into the gland, autonomic neuropathy, endocrine disease or past alcohol use. The
salivary gland enlargement may correlate with the frequency of bulimic symptoms.
VIII. Pneumoparotitis (pneumosialadenitis, wind parotitis):
It's the presence of air within the parotid gland due to the
reflux of pressurized air from the mouth into the parotid duct. It usually
affect wind instrumentalists, balloon and glass blowers, usually it resolves in
several days.
IX. Radiotherapy associated salivary gland dysfunction:
Radiotherapy of the head and neck malignancies can causeprofound xerostomia and salivary acinar destruction when the radiotherapy is
directed through the major salivary glands. The degree of damage is related to
the dose and duration of radiotherapy. The xerostomia is irreversible and
patients have oral symptoms like those of Sjogren syndrome. Treatment is by high
dose topical pilocarpine or by the use of radioprotectants.
X. Sjogren syndrome:
It's the second most common autoimmune connective disordercharacterized by xerostomia and xerophthalmia due to profound lymphocytic
infiltration into the salivary and lacrimal glands. Head and neck manifestations
of Sjogren syndrome include:
1. Xerostomia which if severe it can cause dysartheria dysphagia, caries and
acute gingivitis.
2. Increased liability to candidal infection.
3. Dysgeusia and loss of taste.
4. Intermittent swelling of the major salivary glands.
5. Solitary enlargement of a salivary gland.
6. Increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Treatment of xerostomia in Sjogren syndrome are local agents (salivary
substitutes and chewing gum) and systemic agents (pilocarpine, bethanecole and
interferon alpha.
XI. Lymphoepithelial lesion:
It's an uncommon disease presented with recurrent or
persistent swelling of the parotid and occasionally of the submandibular gland.
XII. Miculicz's disease:
It's characterized by multiple lymphoepithelial lesionsof the lacrimal and salivary glands.
XIII. Excess salivation (sialorrhea):
The common causes include:1. Cerebral palsy.
2. Amyotropic lateral sclerosis.
3. Traumatic brain injury.
4. Stroke.
5. Parkinson's disease.
Treatment: surgical relocation of the submandibular and parotid ducts,
intraglandular injection of botulinum toxin and transdermal scopolamine.
XIV. Minor salivary gland disorders:
1. Mucocoele:-It is the most common disease of the minor salivary glands and occurs
mostly on the lateral aspect of the lower lip of an extravasation type
(commonly), as a single recurrent, fluctuant, painless, well-circumscribed
bluish swelling which ruptures easily. It either resolves spontaneously or may
need surgical removal.
2. Subacute necrotizing sialadenitis:
It's a rare non specific inflammatory disease of men occurs suddenly as
rapid onset, painful, non-ulcerated swelling of minor palatal salivary glands.
It usually resolves spontaneously within two weeks.
3. Necrotizing sialometaplasia:
It is an uncommon disorder that affect mainly minor salivary glands of
the palate; as a palatal swelling that breaks down to give rise to localized,
irregular ulceration which may reach 5 cm in diameter and can give rise to local
parasthesia and anaesthesia with occasional systemic symptoms. Bony involvement
is rare and the condition heals within 4-90 days.
Possible causes include: direct trauma, dental local anaesthesia, cocaine
use, radiotherapy, alcohol, tobacco, upper respiratory tract infections,
allergic disease, oral intubation and sickle cell disease.
The condition is self limiting but biopsy is needed to differentiate it
from oral malignancy.
4. Cheilitis glandularis (suppurative stomatitis glandularis):
It is a rare disorder of adults presented as labial swelling and
ulceration of the lower lip, evertion of the lower lip and protrusion of the
lower lip secondary to inflammation of the minor labial salivary glands. It's
possibly due to syphilis, poor hygiene, tobacco smoking, actinic exposure,
emotional disturbances and genetic predisposition.
Treatment is by vermilionectomy.
5. inclusion of salivary gland tissue:
Cystic-like areas of radiolucency are seen in the region of the angle
of the mandible, they may be the origin of rare intraosseous salivary gland
tumours.