What is Submandibular Gland Ultrasonography?

Submandibuier gland is the name given to the salivary glands located under the chin and located close to the middle part. Submandibular ultrasonography is requested if any pathological condition occurs or is suspected in these salivary glands, and it is generally used in tumor facilities that develop in that area.

Submandibular gland ultrasonography forms a part of neck ultrasonography. Submandibular gland ultrasonography is generally a desired technique in case of concern about stones formed in the salivary gland duct.

In addition to this, most importantly, if there is a suspicion of cancer in the salivary glands, this examination is very successful in diagnosing tumors. Submandibular gland ultrasonography is taken in approximately 10 minutes. The patient does not feel any pain or pain during this examination.

What is the Submandibular Gland?

It is located under the chin and is manifested by swelling in that area, that is, under the jawbone. The submandibular gland is another name for the salivary gland. Generally, the tumors that occur in that area are benign and slowly growing tumors. As a result, it is painless.

Generally, some patients may live as a mass in that area for years without showing any symptoms. Submandibular gland ultrasonography is performed to obtain information about whether there is a tumor in that area and the structure of the tumor. Together with this diagnosis, it provides a healthy planning of treatment.

To whom is the Submandibular Gland Applied?

It is a form of treatment for diseases that develop in the salivary gland. The most common pathology in submandibular gland diseases is salivary gland stones. Submandibular gland tumors are the most common pathologies. This rate is around 50%.

Submandibular Gland Tumors

There are two large salivary glands in the right and left anterior parts of the face. These are Sublingual, Submandibular and parotid. It is dispersed in the mouth called mucosa. In addition, there are hundreds of salivary glands. The major salivary glands produce the secretion.

Apart from facilitating digestion, the secretion also adjusts the humidity in the throat, nose, larynx, and mouth. Tumors can occur in the salivary gland, called the submandibular gland, as in all other parts of the body.

Tumors are divided into benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not show much development. Growth does not usually occur, so they may not show as many symptoms as others.

Metastasis is usually not seen in submandibular gland tumors. They develop mostly in capsules. Since it is surrounded, it does not cause much damage to the surrounding tissues.

However, growth develops rapidly in malignant tumors. It has the ability to metastasize to lymph nodes and other organs, organs such as the lung, liver, brain, bone. Although it does not spread to the surrounding tissues too much, it disrupts their functions. Malignant tumors manifest themselves with pain.

Swelling in the Submandibular Glands

This swelling can develop unilaterally or bilaterally. Generally no symptoms or very mild. Another name for swelling in the submandibular glands is lymph node enlargement.

In some cases, high fever is seen. The symptoms seen are usually in the form of upper respiratory tract infection. The size of the lymph node is approximately 2-6 cm.

What Causes Submandibular Gland Swelling?

Among these viruses, mumps is the most common disease. Swelling of the submandibular gland, or salivary gland, usually develops due to viruses or bacteria. Mumps is usually a childhood disease. A child with mumps virus also has swelling in the area called the parotid gland.

Pain and swelling in the salivary gland also lead to redness in some cases. Usually, drugs called painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Antibiotic treatment is also applied in infections caused by bacteria.

By drinking plenty of water and taking oral antibiotics, the disease passes after a certain incubation period. Another cause of salivary gland swelling is salivary gland stones. In salivary gland stones, a dense consistency is formed in the saliva and salivary stones develop due to precipitation of calcium salts in the salivary duct.

Another cause of salivary gland swelling is salivary gland tumors. Salivary gland tumors usually develop in the salivary gland called the parotid gland. In the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors, namely submandibular gland tumors, diagnosis is made using ultrasonography imaging.

What are the Risks of Submandibular Gland Surgery?

Even if these tumors are treated with drugs, surgery is inevitable at a high rate. The risks seen in submandibular gland surgery are not very different from the risks in all other surgeries.

However, having a salivary gland and being close to the facial nerves increases the risks of this surgery to a certain extent. This nerve is located around the capsular sheath around the salivary gland and at the same time this nerve is extremely thin.

Therefore, the operation is not an easy operation. The process of preserving and protecting this nerve and removing the gland is difficult to a certain extent. A method is applied by performing the operation under the capsule. Being a malignant tumor and adhesions formed in that area due to infection make it difficult to apply this technique.

However, the operations performed in this regard are extremely successful operations. In the lower part of the submandibular gland, there is another nerve associated with the tongue, and it is a nerve that provides the tongue’s sense of taste and touch. It is also very important to protect this nerve during the operation.

Submandibular Gland Prices 2024

The most accurate information on this subject is provided by mutual consultation with the physician and by contacting the imaging center. Submandibular gland price varies according to the region where the disease develops.

This examination, which is done free of charge in hospitals affiliated to the Social Security Institution, is also performed in private imaging centers with a certain discount. It is also covered by private health insurance. You can contact us for detailed information about submandibular gland prices 2024.