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Oral Medicine > Salivary Gland Problems > Flashcards

Salivary Gland Problems Flashcards

(38 cards)

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1
Q

Function of salivary glands

A

Avid buffering
Mucosal lubrication
Taste facilitation
Antibacterial

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2
Q

Cause of dry mouth

A

Salivary gland disease
Drugs ( reduce salivary flow by having an anti-muscarinic anticholinergic action which reduces stimulation to the glands)
Medical conditions and dehydration
Radiotherapy and cancer treatment

Anxiety and somatisation disorders

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3
Q

Salivary changes from 17 years of age onwards

A

Acinar tissue loss
- submandibular (37%)
- parotid (32%)
- minor glands (45%)

This is normal physiological occurrence

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4
Q

Indirect salivary problems

A

Anti-muscarinic cholinergic drugs
- tricyclic antidepressants
- antipsychotics
- amitriptyline 26% reduction

Antihistamine
Atropine
Diuretics- benzodiazapine 10%reduction

Even though number is not so high, but when combined with age and decreased flow due to the age, can be significant
Cytotoxics as part of chemotherapy

Lithium (for bipolar disorder)- 70% reduction and increased caries risk

Chronic medical problems inducing dehydration:
Diabetes
Stroke
Addison disease
Persistent vomiting

Acute medical problems:
Acute oral mucosal disease
Burns
Vesiculobullous diseases
Haemorrhage

Cause is external to the gland

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5
Q

Direct salivary gland problems

A

Aplasia (ectodermal dysplasia-hair, nails, teeth, salivary and sweat glands)
Sarcoidosis (granulomatous condition which will cause an infiltrate whitin the gland and prevent it from functioning properly)
HIV disease ( causes increase in size but decrease in function, can be first sign of HIV so offer a test if seen)
Gland infiltration
Cystic fibrosis (affects all gland secretions throughout the body)

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6
Q

Investigation for salivary disease

A

Blood tests: FBC, liver function, CRP

Glucose
Anti ro and anti la antibody
Antinuclear antibody
Complement C3 and C 4
Functional assay- salivary flow
Tissue assay-labial gland biopsy
Imaging- plain radiographs, sialography, MR sialography
Ultrasound

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7
Q

Frequent somatoform diseases

A

Oral dysaesthesia
TMD pain
Headache
Neck/back pain
Dyspepsia
IBS

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8
Q

Normal and reduced flows

A

Resting flow:
Normal: 0.3-0.4 ml/min
Reduced: less than 0.1 ml/min

Stimulated flow
Normal: 1-2 ml/min
Reduced: less than 0.5 ml/min

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9
Q

Treatable causes of dry mouth

A

Dehydration
Medicines with anti muscarinic side effects
Medicines causing dehydration
Poor diabetes control
Somatoform disorders

Removal/solution of all above should remove dry cause

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10
Q

Dry mouth with only symptomatic treatment

A

Sjogren syndrome
Dry mouth from cancer treatment or salivary gland disease

They cannot be brought back to normal salivary flow so only symptomatic relief offered/reduction in disability

Management:
Intensive dental prevention!
Salivary substitutes
Salivary stimulants

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11
Q

Other investigation for dry mouth

A

Dry eye test
Schitmer test- tear flow less than 5mm wetting of test paper in 15 min
Tear film

Tissue examination- labial gland biopsy (lower lip-looking for lymphocytic infiltrate and focal acinar disease)- not often as can lead to nerve damage and lip numbness

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12
Q

Dentists management of dry mouth

A

Prevent oral disease is the key
- caries risk assessment
-candida/ staphylococci awareness and reduction- low sugar diet and OHI
(Angular cheilitis, sore tongue)

Maximal preventative strategy
- diet
-fluoride
-treatment planning for caries risk mouth

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13
Q

Saliva substitute

A

Sprays: (usually discouraged due to low pH
Glandosane
Saliva orthana

Lozenges:
Saliva orthana
SST (saliva stimulating tablet)

Salivary stimulants
Pilocarpine ( helps to increase residual gland function, but side effects: sweating, tachycardia)

Oral care systems
Oral balance

Frequent sips of water

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14
Q

Causes of hypersalivation

A

True(rare) - actual increase in salivary flow
-drug uses, dementia, CJD, stroke (neurodegenerative - increase in salivary stimulation from lack of normal regulation)

Perceived (common)- NO increase in salivary flow
-swallowing failure (anxiety, stroke, motor neurone disease, MS)
-postural drooling (being a baby, cerebral palsy)

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15
Q

Drugs causes of hypersalivation

A

Parasymphatomimetics
Buprenorphine
Anticholinesterase
Haloperidol
Clonazepam
….

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16
Q

Dealing with excess saliva

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A

Treat the cause (anxiety disorders)

Drugs to reduce salivation (anti-muscarinic agents, Botox to prevent gland stimulation)

Biofeedback training (swallowing control)

Surgery to salivary system (gland removal, duct repositioning)

17
Q

Reasons for salivary gland changes in size

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A
  1. Viral inflammation - mumps, HIV
  2. Secretion retention- mucocele, duct obstruction
  3. Gland hyperplasia - sialosis (unknown cause of gland hyperplasia), Sjogrens syndrome
18
Q

Mumps

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A

MMR vaccine protects

Signs and symptoms: headache, joint pain, nausea, dry mouth, mild abdominal pain, tired, loss of appetite, pyrexia…
* Can lead to sterility if testicles are involved severely

It is paramyxovirus
Droplet spreading
Incubation period 2-3 weeks
Third of people have no symptoms

Management: symptomatic treatment only

19
Q

HIV salivary disease

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A

HIV can be cause of salivary swelling
Pt may have no HIV symptoms when presenting/ this can be one of the first signs!

Generally does not improve with treatment

It is lympho-proloferative enlargement of the glands

20
Q

Mucocele

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A

Caused by secretion retention with in the duct or if extravasated into the tissues

It leads to recurrent swelling that bursts in days
Causing salty taste
Common sites are junction of hard and soft palate
Lower lip

21
Q

Subacute obstruction

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A

Swelling associated with meals
Swelling will increase as salivary flow starts and reduces when salivary flow stops
Usually happens in submandibular, occasionally on parotid

Can be slowly progressive- over weeks

Eventually becomes fixed and painful

Causes:
Duct obstruction
If in submandibular - usually due to duct blockage
If in parotid-isually due to duct stricture
Can be due to sialolith(stones), mucous plugging, ductal damage from chronic infection (scarring)

Investigation:
Low dose plain radiography ( if normal dose, it may not be seen and calcium in stones is not as high as in teeth)
Lower true occlusal
Sialography- when infection free
Isotope scan if gland function uncertain
Ultrasound assessment of duct system

22
Q

Duct dilatation

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A

Defect preventing normal emptying
Micro-organisms grow and lead to persisting and recurrent soalodenits

Gland function gradually lost and persisting infection leads to gland removal

May follow recurrent parotitis of childhood at age 20-30

23
Q

Subacute obstruction, management and outcomes

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A

Management:
Surgical sialolith removal if practical
Sialography for “no stone” causes- washing effect
Consider gland removal if fixed swelling

Outcome:
Reformation of stone/obstruction
Deformity of duct-stasis and infection
Gland damage-slow salivary flow, ascending infection

24
Q

Other changes in gland size

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A

Increase in gland tissue- hyperplasia
-sialosis, Sjogrens

Sialosis: major gland enlargement
No identified cause
-can be due to alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, DM, drugs

25
Investigation for sialosis
Blood tests Glucose FBC, LFTs, bilirubin BBV-HIV, hep B,C Autoantibody screen- ANA, anti Ro, anti La Other: MRI of major salivary glands USS for Sjogrens Labial gland biopsy Tear film Sialography -occasionally Photography
26
Sjogren syndrome
Partial- sicca syndrome Primary- no connective tissue disease Secondary - connective tissue disease - SLE ( hair loss, joint pain, joint swelling, photosensitivity, oral ulcers), Rheumatoid arthritis (joint pain and swelling, fatigue, malaise, SOB, neuropathy), scleroderma (Raynaud's, GI) It is autoimmune disease ( part of infection, toxic chemicals, dietary components, genetics)
27
Sjogren - prevalence
0.2-1.2% in US Mostly women (10:1) Diagnostic delay due to late presentations Lifespan not effected Risk of neonatal lupus in baby if pregnant Systemic involvement: lungs, kidney, liver, pancreas, blood vessels, nervous system or general fatigue and chronic pain
28
Sjogrens aetiology
Speculative genetic- genetic predisposition but no specific inheritance (associated with anti-Ro and anti-La is genetic) Low oestrogen risk gives a risk of getting connective disease Incomplete apoptosis leads to antigens being improperly exposed Dysregulation of inflammatory process with dendritic AP cells recruiting T cells response and pro-inflammatory cytokines Speculative environment - EBV association-weak evidence
29
Sjogrens- consequences of syndrome
Gradual loss of salivary /lacrimal gland tissue through inflammatory destruction Enlargement of major salivary glands- usually symmetrical and usually painless Increased risk of any lymphoma (by 5%), salivary marginal B-cell lymphoma (MALT) Ocular and oral effects of loss of tears and saliva
30
Diagnosis of Sjogrens
Complex- no single test gives the answer Balance of probabilities from multiple criteria Different scoring systems in use: American-European consensus group ( dry eyes/mouth, antibody findings z imaging findings, radio nucleotide assessment, histopathology findings -4 or more positive criteria for diagnosis) ACR- EULAR joint criteria (histopathology findings, autoantibody findings-anti-Ro, dry mouth/eyes- objective salivary flow, schirmer test, ultrasound)
31
Sjogrens syndrome AECG- oral and eye symptoms
Oral: Daily feeling of dry mouth for more than 3 months Recurrent swelling of salivary glands in adults Frequently drink liquid to aid swallowing dry foods Abnormal UNSTIMULATED whole salivary flow (less than 1.5 ml in 15 min) Ocular: Persistent troublesome dry eyes for more than 3 months Recurrent sensation of sand/gravel in eyes Tear substitute used more than 3x a day Abnormal schirmer test (less than 5 mm wetting in 5 min)
32
Autoantibodies in Sjogrens syndrome
What do positive autoantibodies mean? -not causative in disease process - associated with the clinical pattern - antibodies possible without disease-need clinical and lab findings Anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies - collection of proteins found in the cell - different ones found in different patients Other autoantibodies? - other extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) not associated ANA and RF not associated with sjogrens
33
What possitive labial gland biopsy means in Sjogrens?
Collection of more than 50 lymphocytes around a duct- lymphocytic focus Generalised lymphocytic infiltrate is non specific sialadenitis More than one focus score (FS) consistent with sjogrens syndrome Labial biopsy is the MOST diagnostic feature on ACR- EULAR criteria
34
What tests to do for Sjogrens
Look at PT mouth: Early sjogrens may not have dry mouth or complain of one Do the least harmful tests first: UWS in 15 min (less than 1.5 ml) Anti-Ro antibody Salivary USS Baseline MRI of major salivary glands (for comparison for future lymphoma screen) If still equivocal, do labial gland biopsy (risk of numbness following the procedure, informed consent needed) LGB and anti-Ro may be the only positive results in early Sjogrens
35
Management of Sjogren syndrome
If pt presenting with a dry mouth and salivary deficit: Gland function is already very low Oral health needs paramount - OHI, diet, 5000 ppm toothpaste Symptomatic treatment of oral dryness Salivary stimulants- pilocarpine If pt is presenting early-NO dry mouth yet but active gland disease Liaise with rheumatologist -multisystem disease Consider immune modulating treatment - hydrocychloroquine, methotrexate
36
Complications of sjogrens
Effect of oral dryness: caries risk denture retention, infection, functional issues like speech, swallowing Salivary enlargement -sialosis Can occur at any time-usually permanent Reduction surgery possible but not advised Lymphoma risk Salivary lymphoma may present with unilateral gland swelling at any stage Increased general lymphoma risk too GDP should be doing screening/review
37
Features on the histological examination of labial gland biopsy that is compatible with Sjogrens syndrome
Focal lymphocytic infiltrate typically collecting around intralobular ducts -1 focus ( more than 50 lymphocyte in 4mm3) Adjacent normal/intact acini (key differentiating feature of Sjogrens from chronic sialadenitis)
38
Characteristics of Warthin's tumour
May be incidental finding May be bilateral May be multifocal

Oral Medicine (15 decks)

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