期刊名称:Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine
印刷版ISSN:2474-1949
出版年度:2018
卷号:3
期号:4
页码:20-21
DOI:10.21980/J8NH0N
出版社:University of California Press
摘要:History of present illness: The patient is a 15-year-old male who presented to the emergency department
with right-sided submandibular swelling that started three days prior to arrival. He noted worsening of
symptoms on the day of presentation with dysphagia and odynophagia. He described a subjective fever,
rhinorrhea, and a non-productive cough at onset of symptoms that resolved.
Significant findings: The computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates prominent enlargement and
heterogeneous enhancement of the right submandibular gland (single large arrow) compatible with
sialadenitis. There is no evidence of a sialolith or obstruction on the CT. There is associated edema (two small
arrows) of the right submandibular space, parapharyngeal space and anterior right neck with partial
effacement of the right vallecula and right pyriform sinus.
Discussion: The patient has sialadenitis, which is an infection of the salivary gland caused by either a bacteria
or virus. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause, but Streptococcus pneumoniae, viridans
streptococci, and Haemophilus influenzae are also possible etiologies.1 The infection occurs in the
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submandibular gland 80%-92% of the time. The second most common site is the parotid gland.2 The
presentation is almost always unilateral. Symptoms typically include sudden onset ofswelling of the involved
gland. Fever and chills can also be present.2 Risk factors for sialadenitis include: sialolithiasis, dehydration,
Sjögren syndrome, connective tissue disease, and periodontal disease.3
Computed tomography is ten-fold more sensitive at detecting sialoliths and sialadenitis when compared to
plain films. In a retrospective cohort study, the sensitivity was found to be 98% and the specificity 88% for
detection of a salivary stone.4 Patients with sialadenitis are typically managed in an outpatient setting with
antibiotics and analgesia. Dicloxacillin and cephalexin are commonly used antibiotics. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for analgesia. Sialolithiasis is a leading cause of sialadenitis
and occurs when a salivary stone gets wedged in the salivary duct, which can then lead to infection of the
gland behind the obstruction. If a sialolith is present, lemon drops or any sour lozenge are common
sialagogues that can help promote passage of the stone to aid in clearance of the infection. Symptoms
typically resolve in 7-10 days.2 If the symptoms do not improve, otolaryngology (ENT) follow up for
sialendoscopy is indicated.