Bilateral and symmetrical heterotopic submandibular glands in the upper neck: case report

During the neck dissection of a male cadaver, large heterotopic submandibular glands were encountered bilaterally in the upper neck. They were symmetrical, capsulated and lay deep to the superficial lamina of the superficial cervical fascia. Both glands were located in the submandibular and carotid triangles. The somewhat smaller orthotopic submandibular glands and the sublingual glands were in their normal anatomic location. Duct of the heterotopic gland united with the corresponding orthotopic submandibular gland’s duct on each side and ended on the ipsilateral sublingual caruncle. Histopathologic examination of the heterotopic glands revealed seromucous (mainly serous) tissue. A bilaterally situated symmetrical heterotopic submandibular gland of this size has not heretofore been reported in the literature. The embryological and clinical significance of this case is discussed.