Ultrasound diagnosis and sialadenectomy confirming a mandibular salivary gland vegetative foreign body and chronic sialadenitis in a dog

Abstract

A 2‐year‐old, female, neutered dog presented with a right‐sided, non‐painful, ventral neck mass approximately 2.5 cm in diameter. Although aspirates of the mass yielded a low volume of grossly purulent exudate, there was no response to antibiotic and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory medications. Cervical ultrasound examination revealed a straight hyperechoic structure with no associated distal acoustic shadowing in the right mandibular salivary gland, surrounded by a small volume of anechoic fluid, most consistent with migrating foreign material and focal sialadenitis. The surrounding subcutaneous tissues were hyperechoic with interspersed anechoic fluid material, consistent with cellulitis. Vegetative material was considered most likely due to the shape of the structure and absence of distal acoustic shadowing. Right mandibular and sublingual sialadenectomy was performed and vegetative material was retrieved from the mandibular salivary gland. Histopathology revealed chronic pyogranulomatous sialadenitis secondary to foreign body migration. Surgical excision achieved clinical resolution at 8 weeks follow‐up.