Idiopathic submandibular sialoceles in the neck.

A submandibular sialocele is a subcutaneous cavity containing saliva. The clinical and radiologic features of 3 patients with an idiopathic submandibular sialocele are presented. All 3 patients were males in their twenties. Submandibular sialocele presents as a soft cystic and compressible neck mass, with no history of previous trauma or diseases of the salivary gland. Computed tomography (CT) of the neck revealed a homogenous lesion with enhancing rim. The lesion appeared to be insinuating into the surrounding tissue. Excision of the sialocele, leaving the submandibular gland intact, was performed for the first patient. Recurrence of a neck mass occurred after 4 months. Complete excision of the sialocele with associated submandibular gland was subsequently performed. There was no recurrence after a follow-up period of 3 years. Excision of gland and sialocele was performed for the other 2 patients. There was no recurrence after a follow-up of 2 years and 10 months, respectively.