Intra-oral ultrasound imaging of a submandibular duct calculus.

Abstract

A case is presented showing the first reported use of a small, digitally-guided, intra-oral ultrasound probe to image a calculus in a submandibular salivary duct. This use of intra-oral ultrasound is discussed in the context of the overall current status of intra-oral and extra-oral ultrasound imaging. It is proposed that using a combination of intra-oral and extra-oral probes, the whole of the salivary apparatus may now be examined sonographically for the presence of calculi.

Sonography of soft tissue masses of the neck

“…Sonography also has the potential to visualize non-opaque calculi. 70,71 Color Doppler imaging can help to differentiate between the submandibular artery and Wharton's duct.…”

Sonography of the salivary glands

“…Typical localizations of concrements are the anterior knee of Wharton's duct and the confluens of the intraglandular ducts. Sometimes intraoral transducers are used for localization of submandibular stones [26]. Concrements in the parotid system are often localized in the intraglandular periphery of the gland or in the parenchyma.…”

Sialolithiasis in children as a diagnostic dilemma

“…It has the advantage of avoiding the use of ionizing radiation and being able to detect radiolucent calculi. However, the ductal area is difficult to visualize by this approach [1,3,4,25,26], as examplified by our patient. The recent use of small, high-frequency ultrasound probes allows access to Wharton's duct via an intraoral approach [4] and may succeed when extraoral ultrasound and X-ray have failed to detect calculi.…”