salivary gland pathology

ranula

mucus retention cyst in the floor of the mouth arising from an obstructed sublingual or minor salivary duct

sonographic appearance of ranula:

• well-defined, homogeneous, hypoechoic, or anechoic mass

• Infected cyst will appear complex

Sjögren syndrome

• an autoimmune disease that affects all glands that produce moisture

• leads to dysfunction of the salivary glands and severe dryness of the eyes, nose, skin, and mouth

sonographic appearance of Sjögren syndrome:

heterogeneous, hyperemic, visibly enlarged, and may contain diffuse hypoechoic regions

sialadenitis

inflammation of the salivary gland(s)

sonographic appearance of sialadenitis:

heterogeneous, hyperemic, visibly enlarged, and may contain diffuse hypoechoic regions

sialolithiasis

• salivary duct stones

• most commonly located within the submandibular gland

sonographic appearance of sialolithiasis:

dilated duct containing a shadowing, echogenic focus or foci

sialadenosis

• benign, painless enlargement of the salivary gland

• usually affects both parotid glands

sonographic appearance of sialadenosis:

enlarged gland without hypervascularity

pleomorphic adenoma

• benign and most frequent tumor of the salivary glands

• most commonly seen in the parotid gland

sonographic appearance of a pleomorphic adenoma:

• Hypoechoic mass

• biopsy is often warranted

mucoepidermoid carcinoma

• most common malignancy of the salivary glands

• typically starts in the parotid gland

sonographic appearance of a mucoepidermoid carcinoma:

• hypoechoic or heterogeneous mass with moderate to marked internal vascularity

• biopsy is often warranted