June 27, 2009

Submandibular Sialadenitis with Abscess


Coronal and sagittal CT images show an enlarged left submandibular gland with two well-defined rim enhancing fluid collections in the anterior aspect of the gland, representing abscesses. There is adjacent subcutaneous fat stranding.

Sialadenitis
  • Most common salivary gland abnormality is infection, either bacterial or viral
  • Bacterial infection ascends from oral cavity. Most common pathogens are S. aureus, S. viridans, H. influenza
  • Most common viral infection is mump
  • Most common site = parotid > submandibular gland
  • Predisposing factors are dehydration, radiation, immunosuppression
  • Other causes of sialadenitis include inflammation (sialolithiasis, radiation), autoimmune (Sjogren, lupus), granulomatous (TB), drug, etc.
Sialadenitis vs Abscess
  • Sialadenitis is treated with antibiotics, while abscess usually needs surgery
  • Abscess may spread to deep neck spaces and progress to Ludwig angina
  • CT can differentiate the two entities. Abscess is seen as localized low attenuation, walled-off region in contrast to dense, enhanced gland
  • CT can show calcified sialolithiasis, and in some cases noncalcified sialolithiasis as a cause of duct obstruction
References:
1. Yoskovitch A. Submandibular sialadenitis/sialadenosis. emedicine Jul 23, 2008.
2. Silvers AR, Som PM. Salivary glands. Radiol Clin North Am 1998;36:941-966.

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