
Submandibular sialolithiasis: The roles of radiology in its diagnosis and treatment
Author(s) -
Joshua Oluwafemi Aiyekomogbon,
Lewis Bamidele Babatunde,
Abdul J Salam
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of african medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.433
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1596-3519
DOI - 10.4103/aam.aam_64_17
Subject(s) - medicine , echogenicity , radiology , sialography , acoustic shadow , submandibular gland , radiography , lesion , surgery , ultrasound , dentistry , parotid gland , pathology
E. N was a 48-year-old man referred from a peripheral hospital to the Maxillofacial unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, on account of 1-year history of left-sided jaw pain and swelling, particularly after meal. The conventional plain radiograph of the jaws appeared normal as there was no opacity of soft tissue or calcific density visualized. Sialography revealed an oval-shaped filling defect in the dilated left Wharton's duct, which could suggest radiolucent calculus. Ultrasound scan showed the lesion as a brightly echogenic mass surrounded by anechoic clear fluid (saliva), casting posterior acoustic shadow. A diagnosis of left submandibular sialolithiasis was made. The maxillofacial surgeons decided to remove the calculus surgically, but the patient refused surgery and then defaulted from subsequent follow-up visits.