Salivary Gland Lesions Flashcards
1
Q
Where are salivary glands located IO?
A
- Parotid, subMN, sublingual glands
- Hard palate: posterior lateral quadrant
- Soft palate
- Buccal & labial mucosa & vestibule
- Floor of mouth
- Tongue
- Serous/mucous glands present in MX sinus & nasal mucosa
2
Q
Where AREN’T there any salivary glands IO?
A
- Gingiva & edentulous alveolar ridge mucosa
- Midpalatine raphe
- Hard palate anterior to PM region
- Dorsum of the tongue
3
Q
Ranula
A
- Mucocele on FOM
- Latin word rana = frog
- Source is usually sublingual gland (but also subMN & MSG)
- Sublingual = body of gland or along superficial ducts of Rivini
- Most frequent in children & young adults
- Larger than other mucoceles
- Tx: Removal of feeding gland
- Px: Relatively good. Plunging Ranula can be dangerous
4
Q
Sialolithiasis
A
- Sialolith: Calcified structure w/in salivary ductal system
- Deposition of Ca2+ salts around a nidus of debris w/in lumen
- Can be promoted by chronic sialadenitis & partial obstruction
- Not related to any systemic derangement in Ca2+ metabolism
- Clinical Features
-
Most common w/ subMN gland/duct
- Can happen in any duct though
- If palpable: firm/hard
- Pain & swelling during times of increased salivation
-
Most common w/ subMN gland/duct
- Tx:
- Small stones can be milked out of the duct
- Sialagogues, moist heat, fluid intake promote passage
- Larger stones need to be removed surgically
- Entire gland may need to be removed
5
Q
Bacterial Sialadenitis
A
- Inflammation of the salivary glands (acute or chronic)
- Arise as a result of ductal obstruction or decreased saliva flow
- Allows retrograde spread of bacteria (S. aureus)
- Blockage: sialolith, congenital stricture, adjacent tumor
- Decreased flow: Dehydration, debilitation or medications
- Clinical Features
- Usually in parotid
- Can be bilateral
- Acute pain, swelling, lymphadenopathy
- Sometimes fever malaise, leukocytosis
- Tx:
- Acute: abx & rehydrate
- Surgical drainage may be needed
- Chronic: ranges from conservative tx to surgery
- Abx, analgesics, sialagogues, glandular massage
- Removal of sialolith may be beneficial
- Acute: abx & rehydrate
6
Q
Viral Sialadenitis (Mumps)
A
- Caused by paramyxovirus, genus Rubulavirus
- Approx 30% cases are subclinical
- Low grade fever, headache, malaise, anorexia, myalgia
- Swelling of salivary glands
-
Parotid most frequently involved
- 75% of cases are bilateral
- Dx made from clinical presentation (if epidemic)
- Isolated cases: serological studies (mumps-specific IgG or IgM)
- Viral isolation from saliva
- Tx: Palliative (analgesic, antipyretic, rest)
7
Q
Sarcoidosis
A
- Multisystem, granulomatous disorder of unknown cause
- Improper degradation of antigenic material
- Formation of non-caseating granulomatous inflammation
- 10-17x more common in AA
- Bimodal peak of incidence: 25-35yo, 45-65yo
- Dx based on clinical, radiographic, histopathologic features
- Negative findings for special stains and microorganisms
- Elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels
- 60% of cases resolve spontaneously w/in 2yr
- Corticosteroids are 1st line
8
Q
Sjogren’s Syndrome
A
-
Autoimmune disorder
- Pt forms antibodies to salivary glands and other exocrine glands
- Initial inflammation w/ progression to destruction of salivary glands
- Xerostomia, xeropthalmia (AKA keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
- Primary SS (sicca syndrome): xerostomia & xeropthalmia
- Secondary SS: sicca syndrome & autoimmune disease (RA and lupus)
- Clinical Features
- Females predominate by ratio of 10:1
- Xerostomia - pain, burning, erythema of oral mucosa
- Xeropthalmia - burning, itching of eyes, blurred vision, accumulation of thick secretion
- RA in about 1/2 of pts; lupus & scleroderma also seen
- Lab anomalies
- Antinuclear antibodies in the blood
- Rheumatoid factor in blood
- Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- Tx:
- Supportive - artificial tears, saliva (gland tissue is destroyed, so there’s nothing we can do to cure it)
- Px:
- Increased risk of caries (fluoride app)
- Secondary candidiasis
- Chronic disease but not life threatening
-
Pts show 40x risk of developing lymphomas
- Lymphocytes are just attacking - one mutation away from becoming malignant
9
Q
Sialadenosis
A
-
Non-inflammatory disorder characterized by SG enlargement
- Hypertrophy of acinar cells
- Associated w/ underlying systemic problems
- Diabetes, malnutrition, alcoholism, bulimia
- Deregulate innervation of glands, causing granules accumulation
- Management closely related to control of underlying cause
- Mild examples may cause few problems
- If cosmetics are a concern, surgery can be done
- Pilocarpine may be beneficial in bulimic pts
10
Q
Xerostomia
A
- Refers to subjective sensation of a dry mouth
- Frequently, but not always, associated w/ reduced saliva
- 25% of older adults
- Likely a result of medication use
- 500 drugs reported to produce xerostomia
- Clinical Findings
- Foamy or thick and ropey saliva
- Dry mucosa
- Fissured tongue w/ atrophy of papilla
- Increased prevalence of candidiasis & decay
- Tx: Difficult & often unsatisfactory
- Artificial saliva to make pt more comfortable
- D/c or dose modification may be tried
- Pilocarpine: promotes all glandular flow, which may not always be desirable
- Freq dental visits b/c of increased caries risk
11
Q
Sialorrhea
A
- Excessive salivation for various causes
- Some causes are transient & don’t req tx
- Aphthous ulcers, ill-fitting dentures, GERD, heavy metal poisoning
- Meds used to tx Alzheimer’s & myasthenia gravis
- Pts w/ neurological disorders may drool but have normal saliva
- Some pts complain of drooling, but exam is normal
- If persistent, tx intervention may be req
- Speech therapy: requires cooperation
- Anticholinergic meds: unwanted side effects
- Surgery
12
Q
Salivary Gland Tumors: Tissue of Origin
A
- Majority of SG neoplasms arise from epithelium, esp glandular epithelium
- Adenomas: Benign glandular neoplasms
- Adenocarinoma: Malignant glandular neoplasms
13
Q
Clinical features of salivary gland adenomas
A
-
Encapsulated: Freely movable except on hard palate
- Allows for easy removal in most cases
- Slow growth
- Nontender
- Firm or compressible
- Clinical features are similar to some of the benign mesenchymal tumors
- Tx: Surgical excision & F/U
- Px: Excellent w/ adequate surgery
14
Q
Clinical features of SG adenocarcinomas
A
- Infiltrated growth = Fixed to surrounding tissue
- Rapid or slow growth
- Larger, rapidly growing lesions may cause pain and/or paresthesia
- Tx: Surgery & radiation
- Px: Variable
15
Q
T/F: The bigger the gland, the more likely the neoplasm will be benign. Small glands are likely to be malignant. Minor salivary glands are 50/50
A
True