Veterinary Medicine - September 2007 - (Page 584)

Salivary mucoceles in cats O P E E R - R E V I E W E D TABLE 1 Medical Records of Seven Cats with Surgically Treated Salivary Mucoceles (1993-2006) Case 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sex Female Male Male Male Male Male Female Intact No No No No No Yes Yes Age (years) 2 5 1 10 15 <1 <1 Presenting Complaint Respiratory stridor Respiratory stridor Vomiting, lethargy Ptyalism, lethargy, oral mass Oral mass Ptyalism, submandibular mass Cervical mass Salivary Gland Sublingual Sublingual Sublingual Sublingual Molar Sublingual Sublingual Surgery Salivary gland removal, marsupialization Salivary gland removal, marsupialization Mucocele debulking, marsupialization Salivary gland removal, marsupialization Salivary gland removal Marsupialization Mucocele debulking, salivary gland removal Follow-up (years) 4 3 13 4 1 <1 1 approach and removing the sublingual gland (case 4), removing the molar gland and associated mucocele (case 5), or excising the mucocele through a cervical approach and removing the entire mandibular-sublingual salivary chain (case 7). The results of the histologic examination of excised tissues were consistent with salivary gland and associ- dogs, but few cases have been reported in cats.2-8,17 One study reported that dogs had three times the occurrence of mucoceles that cats had.17 Although the most common presentation in dogs is a swelling in the cervical region,12 only one cat in the study described in this article presented with cervical swelling (Table 1). In cats, intraoral or sublingual surgically removing the affected sublingual gland involves removing the associated mandibular gland as well. Treatment In this case series, the entire mandibular and sublingual glands on the affected side were removed in three cats, the sublingual gland alone was removed in one cat, and the entire molar gland was removed in one cat. In all the cats, the mucocele was lanced, resected, or marsupialized into the oral cavity to provide immediate relief. In dogs, it is recommended that the salivary gland causing the mucocele be removed to decrease the possibility of local recurrence. In the two cases in this case series in which salivary glands were not removed (3 & 6), local recurrence was not noted. In our opinion, removing the entire affected salivary gland would decrease the chance of recurrence. Since marsupialization alone was effective in two cases, it may also be a useful therapy. However, if the surgery site were to heal completely closed, the risk of local recurrence may be higher than is the risk with marsupialization along with Removal of the offending salivary tissue along with marsupialization of the mucocele is recommended. ated mucocele in six of the cases (tissue from case 6 was not submitted for histology). Follow-up ranged from two months to 13 years, and no signs of recurrence were seen in any of the cats. swelling appears to be more common than cervical swelling is. In cats, the mandibular and sublingual glands empty by separate duct systems, which may exit to a common papilla (sublingual caruncle) just lateral to the frenulum of the tongue. In dogs, the sublingual and the mandibular glands are intimately associated; thus, DISCUSSION Salivary mucoceles are a common cause of cervical or intraoral swelling in 584 September 2007 VETERINARY MEDICINE

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - September 2007

Contents Letters Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. William J. Kay Idea Exchange Practical Matters Salivary Mucoceles in Cates: A Retropspective Study of Seven Cases Hyperlipidemia in Dogs and Cats Purina Insert The Latest Management Recommendations for Cats and Dogs with Nonketotic Diabetes Mellitus CE Form Product Preview Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - September 2007

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