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Clinical Entities that Mimic Salivary Inflammatory Disease

  • Salivary Gland Disorders (HT Hoffman, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Sialadenitis due to salivary obstruction is associated with characteristic intermittent pain and swelling of the affected gland. Common etiologies of adult salivary obstruction include salivary duct stones or duct stenosis. However, various pathologic processes can mimic obstructive salivary gland symptoms. This is a case-based review of pathologies that may present similar to the signs and symptoms of salivary obstruction with gland inflammation.

Recent Findings

Multiple cases with pathologies mimicking inflammatory salivary gland disease have been reported and described. This review uses a case-based approach to highlight the clinical presentation, exam, and imaging findings of disorders that imitate sialadenitis in order to describe approaches for achieving accurate diagnoses.

Summary

Cases involving nonobstructive salivary pathology are presented to demonstrate a broad differential diagnosis for facial and salivary gland swelling.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Daniel E. Palmieri

  2. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Barry M. Schaitkin

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Jolie L. Chang

Authors
  1. Daniel E. Palmieri
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  2. Barry M. Schaitkin
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  3. Jolie L. Chang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jolie L. Chang.

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Conflict of Interest

Daniel E. Palmieri and Jolie L. Chang declare that they have no conflict of interest. Barry M. Schaitkin reports a patent issued on Hood Salivary Stent.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical collection on Salivary Gland Disorders

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Palmieri, D.E., Schaitkin, B.M. & Chang, J.L. Clinical Entities that Mimic Salivary Inflammatory Disease. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 8, 304–310 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-020-00303-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-020-00303-9

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