Unilateral submandibular gland aplasia with ipsilateral sublingual gland hypertrophy presenting as a neck mass

Hyposalivation in a 16‐year‐old girl: a case of salivary gland aplasia

“…Her sublingual salivary glands were present and were associated with significant hypertrophy. This most likely represents a compensatory mechanism and has also been previously reported to occur in the context of partial major salivary gland agenesis . Sublingual salivary glands produce predominantly a mucous secretion and under normal circumstances only contribute a few per cent to either the unstimulated or stimulated volume of saliva .…”

“…Salivary gland aplasia is a rare condition with only a small number of cases reported worldwide . The aetiology of major salivary gland aplasia is unknown.…”

“…The aetiology of major salivary gland aplasia is unknown. In view of the fact that major salivary gland aplasia can occur in association with defects in lacrimal apparatus and other developmental abnormalities such as cleft palate, hemi‐facial microstomia and Treacher Collins syndrome, it has been proposed that major salivary gland aplasia may be associated with ectodermal defects of the first and second branchial arches occurring as a result of some disturbing event in early fetal development . Alternatively, it may represent an isolated phenomenon arising from some other unique defect occurring during organogenesis …”

“…Salivary gland aplasia is a rare condition and its precise incidence is unknown . To date, only about 50 cases of major salivary gland agenesis have been reported in the literature, describing both partial and complete agenesis …”

Unilateral sublingual salivary gland hypertrophy with herniation through a boutonniére defect and contralateral sublingual gland hypoplasia

“…These buds grow into the surrounding mesenchymal tissue and undergo development via an intricate process of branching morphogenesis through epithelial to mesenchymal signalling. 1 …”