Pharyngeal Mucoceles in Dogs

Abstract

Eight cases of pharyngeal mucoceles were diagnosed in 49 dogs with salivary mucoceles over a 7 year period. Five of the eight pharyngeal mucoceles were seen in Miniature Poodles. The presenting complaint in all eight dogs was labored breathing, with or without coughing upon excitement or exercise. Diagnosis was made by aspirating a thick mucoid fluid from the pharyngeal swelling. Treatment consisted of resection of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands on the affected side and aspiration of the mucocele in all eight dogs, and resection of redundant pharyngeal tissue in five dogs. Time to follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 7.5 years. There were no postsurgical complications or recurrences of the mucocele. HE MOST COMMON condition affecting the salivary T glands in dogs is the mucocele (~i a l o c e l e ) , '~

Zygomatic salivary mucocoele in a Lhasa apso following maxillary tooth extraction

“…Neoplasia, sialoliths, trauma and glandular foreign bodies have been reported as causes of mucocoeles in dogs (Trumpatori and others 2007). Mucocoeles most frequently affect the sublingual salivary gland (Spreull and Head 1967, Weber and others 1986, Smith 2005), but mucocoeles affecting the parotid and zygomatic gland have been reported (Schmidt and Betts 1978, Bellenger and Simpson 1992). The zygomatic salivary gland is a globular or pyramidal structure that lies in the rostral orbit lateral to the part of the maxilla that contains the roots of the upper molar teeth.…”

Clinical and Ultrasonographic Characteristics of Salivary Mucoceles in 13 Dogs

“…The secretory pathway of the salivary glands extends from the microscopic alveoli, intercalated ducts, intralobular ducts, interlobular ducts, and lobular ducts to the visible lobar and excretory ducts . Disruption of this secretory pathway (mostly in the sublingual gland) results in accumulation of saliva in the deeper structures of the intermandibular space, the angle of the jaw or the upper salivary region . The causes of salivary mucocele are poorly understood, although blunt trauma, foreign bodies, and sialoliths have been proposed…”

Surgical Treatment of a Chronically Recurring Case of Cervical Mucocele in a German Shepherd Dog

“…It has been observed that cervical mucocele is the most common form of this condition [9]. Previous studies have also pointed out that resection of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands alongside drainage and excision of the redundant tissues is the most definitive treatment of this condition [9,10] although in a high percentage of cases (42%) drainage alone was employed for treatment of the affected animals which resulted in the recurrence of the condition within the next 48 hours [9]. This scenario was also observed in the present case, and, as stated by the dog's owner, the only form of treatment the animal had received before surgery consisted of drainage and injection of povidone iodine solution as a cauterizing agent which had merely complicated the situation.…”