Objective: The surgical management of submandibular gland diseases has always been a challenge because it carries a considerable risk of nerve injury. The aim of the study was to evaluate the history, diagnostic procedure, extent and success of the surgical treatment as well as possible complications in patients with submandibulary gland disorder.
Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 86 patients (42 males, 44 females) with submandibular gland disorder treated between 1999 and 2008 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, FD Roosevelt Faculty Hospital in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. Average age of patients was 52.3 years (range 13-80 years).
Results: All patients in our study were treated surgically with the use of standard transcervical approach. The most common indication for submandibulary gland extirpation was sialolithiasis (39.6%). 33.7% of all lesions were sialadenitis, and 26.7% were neoplasms. The morbidity of surgical treatment was low. Transient palsy of marginal mandibular nerve was observed to be the most common complication after the surgery (14%).
Conclusion: Surgical removal of entire submandibulary gland is a safe operation with a low rate of complications (Tab. 5, Fig. 1, Ref. 17).