Salivary calculi as an aetiological factor in chronic sialadenitis of the submandibular gland

During 1960–1975, 115 submandibular glands were removed for reasons other than neoplasia at the Ear, Nose and Throat department, Karolinska sjukhuset, Stockholm. The material was retrospectively analysed with regard to clinical and histopathological findings. The patients, 62 men and 52 women aged 13-77 years, exhibited in all cases but one a chronic sialadenitis. Salivary calculi were found in 82% of the patients. In one patient a mucous retention cyst was found. Microscopically some cases exhibited only a slight periductal inflammation, while others showed a complete destruction of the gland architecture. The duration of symptoms of the whole group before surgery varied from 1 week to 55 years but with a median value of almost 1 year. The conclusion of this study is that salivary calculus is the most important indication for removal of submandibular gland, for reasons other than neoplasia.