Sialoceles are cystic spaces (usually saliva containing) arising within a salivary gland.
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Pathology
They tend to be post-traumatic or iatrogenic in nature. The proposed mechanisms include laceration of the salivary gland duct or ductal stenosis with subsequent dilatation.
Clinical presentation
Patients are often asymptomatic, but may present with mobile swelling involving the affected salivary gland.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
Ultrasound may show a hypoechoic-anechoic cyst within the affected salivary gland.
MRI
Axial T2 weighted and CISS sequences have been shown to be useful to show the location (intra/extraparenchymal, superficial/deep lobe) of the cyst and its relation to muscles and vessels.
Treatment and prognosis
Management of sialoceles has been controversial and a range of surgical and non-surgical treatment modalities have been proposed.
Differential diagnosis
On imaging consider other cystic parotid lesions.
Bilateral cystic parotid lesions
Unilateral cystic parotid lesion(s)
- Warthin tumor
- first branchial cleft cyst
- parotid lymphangioma
- benign lymphoepithelial cyst
- necrotic lymph node(s): especially from squamous cell carcinoma
- infected lymph node(s)
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