Intraoral approach for zygomatic sialoadenectomy in dogs: An anatomical study and three clinical cases

Abstract

Objective: To describe an intraoral approach (IOA) for zygomatic sialadenectomy in dogs and to compare this surgical approach to a modified lateral orbitotomy approach (LOA). Study design: Cadaveric study and short case series.Sample population: Ten canine cadavers and three dogs with clinical disease.Methods: Bilateral zygomatic sialoadenectomies were performed in six mesocephalic, two brachycephalic and two dolichocephalic cadavers, randomly assigned to IOA on one side and LOA on the contralateral side. Duration of surgery, ease of surgical stage scores (rated on 5-point Likert scale) and completeness of gland removal were recorded. Additionally, IOA was performed in three dogs with zygomatic salivary gland (ZSG) disease.Results: Removal of the ZSG was complete in 8/10 and 10/10 dogs using the IOA and LOA, respectively. Surgery was faster with IOA (42.0 min; 33.5-49.6 min) than LOA (65.7 min; 54.9-76.4 min, p = .005). Ease of removal did not differ between approaches (p = .091). Diseased ZSGs were successfully removed in three dogs without intra-or short-term postoperative complications. Conclusions: The intraoral approach described here was technically equally challenging but faster than the LOA. Its clinical use led to an uneventful surgery with excellent short-term outcome in three dogs. Clinical relevance: The IOA provides an alternative approach for zygomatic sialoadenectomy in dogs with ZSG disease. | INTRODUCTIONThe canine salivary system consists of four major pairs of glands; the parotid, mandibular, sublingual, and zygomatic salivary glands (ZSG). 1 The ZSGs are located on the floor of orbit, ventral to the eye. 1 Salivary gland disease is uncommon in dogs, with a reported overall incidence lower than 0.17%. 2,3 Diseases of the salivary gland include mucocele, sialadenitis, sialadenosis, sialolithiasis, neoplasia, and infarction. 2,3 The mandibular and sublingual monostomatic glands are the most frequently affected while the ZSG is the least frequently involved in salivary gland disease. 4 Dogs with ZSG disease share