Sarcoidosis of the submandibular gland: A systematic review

Vourexakis, Zacharias; Dulguerov, Pavel; Bouayed, Salim; Burkhardt, Karim; Landis, Basile N.

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2009.08.001

« Previous Next »American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 31, Issue 6 , Pages 424-428, November 2010

Sarcoidosis of the submandibular gland: A systematic review

Zacharias Vourexakis, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Geneva Medical School, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
Pavel Dulguerov, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Geneva Medical School, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
Salim Bouayed, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Geneva Medical School, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
Karim Burkhardt, MD
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Geneva Medical School, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
Basile N. Landis, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Geneva Medical School, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Geneva Medical School and Hospitals, Rue Micheli-du-Crest 24, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

Received 9 June 2009 published online 12 October 2009.

Abstract

Introduction

Submandibular gland sarcoidosis is rare and little is known about its clinical presentation besides the usual neck swelling. The aim of the study was to extract clinical knowledge on submandibular sarcoidosis from the literature.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using a search in Medline with the key-words “sarcoidosis,” “submandibular,” “submaxillary.”

Results

Forty-six articles fitting the search criteria were found, whereas 31 had to be excluded because they did not report submandibular gland sarcoidosis. Twenty cases of submandibular gland sarcoidosis were considered suitable for analysis. Almost all reported cases concerned female patients. In some cases submandibular gland's swelling is the first and only manifestation of the disease.

Conclusion

Sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all progressive and painless swellings of the submandibular gland, especially in women. Rarely, it may be the first manifestation of the disease.