Submandibular Gland Surgery: Our Clinical Experience

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the demographic findings and surgical results of patients who underwent submandibular gland excision at a tertiary care center.

Methods: The clinical characteristics and histopathological results of 45 patients who had undergone submandibular gland excision between 1997 and 2014 were evaluated in detail.

Results: Twenty-eight (62.2%) and 17 (37.8%) patients presented with a complaint of a painful mass and painless mass, respectively. Histopathologic investigation of the surgical specimen revealed sialolithiasis in 14 patients (31.1%), chronic sialadenitis in 16 (35.6%), benign tumor in 12 (26.7%), malignant tumor in two (4.4%), and mucocele extravasation in one. As complications, permanent paralysis of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve was seen in one patient (2.2%), temporary paralysis of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve was seen in seven (15.6%), orocutaneous fistula was seen in one (2.2%), and temporary paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve was seen in one (2.2%).

Conclusion: This study revealed that in patients presenting with complaints of a submandibular gland mass, sialolithiasis, sialadenitis, and benign masses were the mostly diagnosed pathologies. Transcervical submandibular gland excision is a satisfactory procedure with low complication and recurrence rates when it is performed on selected patients and obeyed to surgical techniques.