Detection of a metallic foreign body in the Wharton duct

Abstract

Rationale:Foreign bodies are rarely found in the submandibular gland and the Wharton duct, due to their physiological and anatomical features.Patient concerns:A 23-year-old man was referred to Foshan Stomatology Hospital in July 2016, with pain and intermittent swelling in the right submandibular area.Diagnoses:Physical examination revealed enlarged, indurated, and painful swelling in the right submandibular area, with a normal oral cavity. No abscess or fistula was detected. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) indicated a 1.7 cm radiopaque mass in the Wharton duct, close to the submandibular gland.Interventions:Submandibular sialadenectomy was performed under general anesthesia. Upon exploration of the fully dissected submandibular gland, a 2.0 cm long barb-like metallic body was found in the Wharton duct.Outcomes:The patient had an uneventful recovery during a 6-months follow-up.Lessons:Foreign bodies in the Wharton's duct can be detected by imaging techniques, such as radiography and CT, and successfully treated by submandibular sialadenectomy.

Asymptomatic foreign body spontaneously discharged from Wharton s duct: a case report

“…The tortuous anatomy of Wharton's duct hinders not only the retrograde migration of straight-shaped foreign bodies (such as a stretched office staple), but also approaching it via sialendoscopy and outpatient procedures, and makes their spontaneous discharge virtually impossible 4 .…”

Foreign Body Retrograde Migration to the Intraglandular Duct of the Submandibular Gland with a Developing of Foreign Body-induced Sialolithiasis: Analysis of Ultrasonography, Surgery, and Literature Published during Last 124 Years

“…15 The same situation is with metallic foreign bodies. In some cases they are founded as a cause of obstructive sialadenitis without signs of sialolith formation, 8 in others -sialolith forms around a metal wire 19 or shrapnel 25 .…”

“…Retrograde passage of different foreign bodies into/inside the Wharton duct described in the recent publications: a 2.0 cm long barb-like metal body (which located at the posterior part of the Wharton`s duct) 8 and 3.5 cm long wooden splinter 11 .…”

“…1 Incredibly different foreign bodies inside the Wharton`s ducts have been found and reported. Fingernail, 2 vegetal nidus, 3 thorn, 4 piece of hair, 5 fish bone, 6,7 metal body, 8 and other particles are published as foreign bodies of the submandibular gland duct which caused obstructive sialadenitis. In some foreign body cases, for example a fish bone, it was connecting several sialoliths.…”

March’s 2020 Full Issue PDF

“…1 Incredibly different foreign bodies inside the Wharton`s ducts have been found and reported. Fingernail, 2 vegetal nidus, 3 thorn, 4 piece of hair, 5 fish bone, 6,7 metal body, 8 and other particles are published as foreign bodies of the submandibular gland duct which caused obstructive sialadenitis. In some foreign body cases, for example a fish bone, it was connecting several sialoliths.…”