Sialadenitis

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Sialadenitis: Definition & Classification - The Gland Stand

  • Definition: Inflammation of one or more salivary glands, leading to swelling and pain.
  • Classification:
    • By Onset & Duration:
      • Acute: Rapid onset, significant pain, glandular swelling.
      • Chronic: Persistent or recurrent, often less painful, glandular enlargement/fibrosis.
    • By Etiology:
      • Infectious: Bacterial (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus), Viral (e.g., Mumps).
      • Non-infectious: Obstructive (e.g., sialoliths), autoimmune (e.g., Sjögren's syndrome), post-radiation.
  • Major Glands: Parotid, Submandibular, Sublingual. Minor glands can also be involved. Anatomy of the Salivary Glands

⭐ Most common gland affected by sialolithiasis is the submandibular gland.

Sialadenitis: Etiology & Risk Factors - Gland Invaders

Etiological Agents (Invaders):

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterial cause of acute suppurative sialadenitis.

Key Risk Factors:

  • Dehydration, sialolithiasis (ductal obstruction)
  • Poor oral hygiene, post-operative state (esp. after major surgery)
  • Medications (anticholinergics, diuretics) → xerostomia
  • Immunosuppression (e.g., HIV, chemotherapy)
  • Sjögren's syndrome, radiation therapy
  • Advanced age, debilitation

Sialadenitis: Clinical Features & Diagnosis - Decoding Distress

  • Acute Sialadenitis:

    • Sudden onset of pain & swelling in the affected gland (parotid, submandibular).
    • Erythema and tenderness over the gland.
    • Fever, malaise.
    • Trismus (if parotid gland involved, especially with abscess).
    • Pus from duct orifice (Stensen's for parotid, Wharton's for submandibular).
    • Aggravated by meals (salivary stimulation).
  • Chronic Sialadenitis:

    • Recurrent, less severe swelling, often postprandial.
    • Gland may be firm, less tender than acute.
    • Reduced salivary flow; dry mouth (xerostomia).
    • Palpable stones (sialolithiasis) in some cases.
  • Diagnosis:

    • Clinical examination: gland palpation, duct massage for pus.
    • Ultrasound (USG): initial imaging of choice; shows inflammation, abscess, stones, duct dilation.
    • CT/MRI: for deep infections, suspected tumors, or complex cases.
    • Sialography: less common now; shows ductal anatomy.
    • FNAC/Biopsy: if tumor suspected or diagnosis unclear.

Ultrasound of sialadenitis with dilated duct

⭐ Purulent discharge from Stensen's or Wharton's duct is highly suggestive of acute bacterial sialadenitis.

Sialadenitis: Management & Complications - Fixing & Foiling

Management Aims: Control infection, pain relief, restore salivary function, prevent recurrence.

  • Acute Bacterial Sialadenitis:
    • Supportive: Hydration, analgesia, warm compresses, sialogogues (lemon, Vit C), oral hygiene.
    • Antibiotics: Anti-staphylococcal (clindamycin, amox-clav). IV for severe/immunocompromised.
    • Surgical drainage for abscess.

    ⭐ First-line treatment for acute bacterial sialadenitis includes hydration, sialogogues, and anti-staphylococcal antibiotics.

  • Chronic Sialadenitis:
    • Conservative: Gland massage, sialogogues, NSAIDs.
    • Interventional: Sialendoscopy (diagnosis, stone removal, stricture dilation), intraductal steroids.
    • Surgical: Gland excision for refractory disease.
  • Viral (Mumps): Symptomatic relief (analgesics, hydration).

Complications:

  • Abscess, cellulitis
  • Ductal stricture, sialocele, fistula
  • Sialolithiasis (stone formation)
  • Ludwig's angina (submandibular)
  • Chronic sialadenitis, gland atrophy
  • Recurrence

Sialadenitis Diagnosis and Management Algorithm

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Acute bacterial sialadenitis: Staphylococcus aureus is the prime pathogen; parotid gland most frequently involved.
  • Major risk factors: Dehydration, post-operative state, elderly, immunosuppression, and sialolithiasis.
  • Key symptoms: Sudden painful gland swelling, erythema, purulent ductal discharge, and fever.
  • Sialolithiasis: Most common in submandibular gland (Wharton's duct); a significant predisposing factor.
  • Küttner tumor (chronic sclerosing sialadenitis): A specific form affecting the submandibular gland.
  • Viral mumps: Caused by paramyxovirus, presents as bilateral parotitis typically.

Practice Questions: Sialadenitis

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Uveoparotid fever is seen in:

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Flashcards: Sialadenitis

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Sialolithiasis is typically caused by _____ or trauma

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Sialolithiasis is typically caused by _____ or trauma

dehydration

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