Head and Neck Imaging

Submandibular gland, pathology

a) congenital anomalies
- agenesis of the submandibular glands is a rare congenital disorder.
b) inflammation
- commonly caused by sialolithiasis . Retro-obstructive submandibular sialadenitis may also be caused by compression or invasion of Wharton's duct in the sublingual space ( Wharton's duct, pathology ). Post-traumatic stricture of Wharton's duct may occur. See also sialadenitis .
c) tumoral pathology
Primary tumours of the submandibular gland are uncommon. About 40% of submandibular gland tumours correspond to pleomorphic adenoma (Fig. 1). Malignant tumours occur with higher relative frequency than in the parotid gland, pathology ; adenoid cystic carcinoma , adenocarcinoma, head and neck and anaplastic carcinoma occur with near-identical frequency.
d) trauma
Traumatic lesions of the submandibular gland are less common than those of the parotid gland, pathology . Trauma to the submandibular gland may cause a sialocele . Postsurgical scarring in the floor of the mouth is the most common injury to Wharton's duct; it may cause retro-obstructive inflammation or atrophy of the gland.

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Fig. 01a

Axial CT image. Heterogeneously enhancing soft tissue mass in left submandibular gland. Pleomorphic adenoma.
Submandibular gland, pathology, Fig. 01a