Salivary Gland Infections: Diagnosis
The doctor will take a medical history and examine the salivary glands inside the mouth.
Imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound can detect salivary gland blockages due to salivary stones or tumors..
CYTOPATHOLOGIC FEATURES
FNA smears of acute sialadenitis contain neutrophils, fibrin, and necrotic debris.
Material for special stains and cultures must be obtained and may identify the causative organisms.
In chronic sialadenitis, the cellular composition of the FNA material varies with the duration of the disease..
Clinical Findings:
Soft, painless, general enlargement of both parotids.
Biopsy: Rarely indicated.
If done, the biopsy shows the acinar cells to be enlarged to almost twice the normal diameter and the cytoplasm packed with enzyme granules..
FNA smears of acute sialadenitis contain neutrophils, fibrin, and necrotic debris.
Material for special stains and cultures must be obtained and may identify the causative organisms.
In chronic sialadenitis, the cellular composition of the FNA material varies with the duration of the disease..
On examination, the gland is swollen, indurated, and tender
Cervical lymphadenitis may be present in cases of infections
Chronic or recurrent sialadenitis causes repeated episodes of pain and swelling, often with meals and recurrent infections
Massage of the gland may reveal purulent saliva at the ductal orifice
Dilated duct with calculi, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis is evident in chronic sialadenitis due to sialolith
In sialadenosis, there is atrophy of parenchymal tissue and a compensatory increase in the amount of adipose tissue
Inflammatory infiltrates are absentChronic sialadenitis is a chronic inflammatory process involving a salivary gland
Chronic sailolithiasis redirects here
Sialadenitis redirects hereChronic sclerosing sialadenitis (also known as Küttner tumour ) redirects here
Occasionally associated with malignancy, e
g adenoid cystic carcinoma Infection