Sialoceles
Sialoceles
Sialoceles is an abnormal accumulation of saliva under the skin due to disruption to the salivary gland.
Originally published by Stephen Juriga, DVM · part of the AOSN network.
Signs you might notice
What you need to know
Damage to a salivary gland or duct causes saliva to collect under the skin.
What you need to know
Saliva irritating the skin tissues can lead to swelling.
What you need to know
Treatment could involve surgical removal of the damaged salivary tissue and accumulated saliva.
What's really going on
Drainage of the accumulating fluid can provide some temporary relief, but until the underlying cause has been removed the saliva could continue to collect. Treatment involves surgical removal of the gland or glands that are supplying the escaping saliva and drainage of the accumulating saliva. A surgical drain is commonly placed to minimize swelling after surgery. Submission of the glandular tissues to a pathologist is important to confirm the diagnosis and results are typically returned in 5-7 days.
How it may look
How a specialist helps
Drainage of the accumulating fluid can provide some temporary relief, but until the underlying cause has been removed the saliva could continue to collect. Treatment involves surgical removal of the gland or glands that are supplying the escaping saliva and drainage of the accumulating saliva. A surgical drain is commonly placed to minimize swelling after surgery. Submission of the glandular tissues to a pathologist is important to confirm the diagnosis and results are typically returned in 5-7 days.
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