Sialoendoscopic management of submandibular gland obstruction caused by intraglandular foreign body.

OBJECTIVE

Submandibular gland obstruction caused by foreign body is relatively uncommon. We discuss the diagnosis and management of foreign body-induced submandibular sialadenitis by an illustrative case report and review of the literature.

STUDY

DESIGN

We report a case of a patient who suffered from obstructive submandibular sialadenitis caused by an intraglandular fish bone, indicating the benefits of sialoendoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of such diseases. A search of the Medline database (from 1967 to February 2011) for foreign body-caused submandibular sialadenitis was performed.

RESULTS

The clinical outcome was satisfactory during a 14 months' follow-up, with no evidence of recurrence. Literature review showed that obstructive submandibular sialadenitis originating from a foreign body is relatively rare, and successful removal of an intraglandular foreign body with gland preservation had never been reported before.

CONCLUSIONS

Sialoendoscopy can be served as an organ-preserving approach for diagnosis and treatment of foreign body-induced obstructive salivary diseases.