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Dystrophic calcification of the submandibular gland
362
Radiology forum
ORAL
SIJRC
ORAL
MED
ORAI.
March
film is due to the patient’s unwillingness movement during imaging.)
to cease
James R. Hupp, DMD, MD Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine Farmington, CT 06032 DYSTROPHIC CALCIFICATION SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND
OF THE
T
he following case involved a mass occupying the region of the right submandibular gland. CASEREPORT
A 62-year-oldwhite manwasreferredby his dentistfor evaluationof a right submandibularswelling.Oral examination revealedan edentulousmaxilla and six remaining anterior mandibular teeth. The swelling of the right submandibulartriangle was rock hard, mobile,and nontender to palpation. The patient stated that he had had severalpainful swellingsin this areaover approximatelya 5-year period 15 yearsbeforeour evaluation.He had been treated with antibioticsfor an “infected gland” eachtime, and the swellingseventually resolved.The presenthard swellinghad beenpresentfor “many years” and had not enlarged.
Fig.
PATHOL
1989
A panoramic radiograph (Fig. 1) was obtained; it revealed a large radiopaquemassoccupying the entire regionof the right submandibulargland. A clinical diagnosisof dystrophiccalcificationof the right submandibular gland wasmade.The patient declinedtreatment or biopsy of the lesion becauseof its asymptomaticand apparently static nature. DISCUSSION
Dystrophic calcification of the tissues usually results from calcium deposition in areas of longstanding tissue necrosis. An underlying history of deranged calcium metabolism such as hyperparathyroidism, chronic renal disease, or milk alkali syndrome is not necessarily present. Whether the present case represents a progressive enlargement of a solitary sialolith or multicentric calcification throughout the entire gland after repeated infections is impossible to ascertain. James B. Murphy, DMD. MS ChieA Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Veterans Administration Medical Center Philadelphia, PA 19104 REFERENCE
I. Robbins SL, Cotran RS, Kumar, V. Pathologic basis of disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 1984:35.
1.
Radiology forum
ORAL
SIJRC
ORAL
MED
ORAI.
March
film is due to the patient’s unwillingness movement during imaging.)
to cease
James R. Hupp, DMD, MD Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine Farmington, CT 06032 DYSTROPHIC CALCIFICATION SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND
OF THE
T
he following case involved a mass occupying the region of the right submandibular gland. CASEREPORT
A 62-year-oldwhite manwasreferredby his dentistfor evaluationof a right submandibularswelling.Oral examination revealedan edentulousmaxilla and six remaining anterior mandibular teeth. The swelling of the right submandibulartriangle was rock hard, mobile,and nontender to palpation. The patient stated that he had had severalpainful swellingsin this areaover approximatelya 5-year period 15 yearsbeforeour evaluation.He had been treated with antibioticsfor an “infected gland” eachtime, and the swellingseventually resolved.The presenthard swellinghad beenpresentfor “many years” and had not enlarged.
Fig.
PATHOL
1989
A panoramic radiograph (Fig. 1) was obtained; it revealed a large radiopaquemassoccupying the entire regionof the right submandibulargland. A clinical diagnosisof dystrophiccalcificationof the right submandibular gland wasmade.The patient declinedtreatment or biopsy of the lesion becauseof its asymptomaticand apparently static nature. DISCUSSION
Dystrophic calcification of the tissues usually results from calcium deposition in areas of longstanding tissue necrosis. An underlying history of deranged calcium metabolism such as hyperparathyroidism, chronic renal disease, or milk alkali syndrome is not necessarily present. Whether the present case represents a progressive enlargement of a solitary sialolith or multicentric calcification throughout the entire gland after repeated infections is impossible to ascertain. James B. Murphy, DMD. MS ChieA Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Veterans Administration Medical Center Philadelphia, PA 19104 REFERENCE
I. Robbins SL, Cotran RS, Kumar, V. Pathologic basis of disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 1984:35.
1.